XXXX industrial dispute: Analysis reveals Milton brewery workers’ sweet pay deal

AFTER they walked off the job for the sixth time in six weeks on Friday, a new analysis of XXXX brewery workers’ industrial agreements reveal the chasm between their pay and conditions and that of many regular Queensland beer drinkers.

• XXXX workers have Origin finale in sights
• XXXX strife: Glass half full or empty?
• Maroons to defy XXXX beer ban
• Beer wars: What the XXXX?

XXXX workers who went on strike for a sixth time in six weeks yesterday get 70 free cartons of beer a year and earn up to $45,000 more than the average Queenslander.

Analysis of their most recent industrial agreement and public statements reveal the chasm between the pay and conditions of brewery workers and many regular Queensland XXXX drinkers.

Along with average pay of $100,000-$130,000, the workers receive a slew of benefits, including cartons of beer, free drinks every weekday in the XXXX Alehouse, an extra day of holiday for the “liquor employees’ picnic day”, a Christmas bonus of two weeks salary, 50 per cent leave loading and up to 12.5 per cent superannuation.

The average Queensland full-time worker made $82,602 in 2017, according to the bureau of statistics.

XXXX brewery workers strike for the sixth time in six weeks at Milton. Picture: AAP/Darren England

In an increasingly bitter industrial dispute, United Voice union members have claimed XXXX is trying to employ more casuals and water down their conditions.

As part of the union’s PR battle against the brewery, they have repeatedly accused Lion of abandoning brewing in Queensland.

But yesterday it emerged Lion had submitted plans to open a new inner-city brewery in Townsville.

Yesterday, workers targeted the XXXX Alehouse and have threatened to disrupt beer supplies before the State of Origin in July.

The union’s Queensland co-ordinator Damian Davie said the dispute was not about pay, but about staff standing up for keeping good jobs in Queensland.

“This dispute is not about pay,” he said. “XXXX workers currently have good jobs with decent conditions and we want to keep it that way.”

Brewery director Irene Bell says the industrial action isn’t threatening supply of Queensland’s favourite beer. Picture: AAP/Claudia Baxter

XXXX brewery manager Irene Bell said the dispute had not threatened supply, with 700,000 cartons shipped in the past month.

“We would never leave Queensland high and dry,” she said. “We have contingencies in place to ensure supply is not impacted.”

Ms Bell said Lion only sought the same deal the union signed at other sites.

“We understand the importance of full-time, secure and stable jobs,” she said. “We also need the option to engage part-time or fixed-term workers, as well as third party labour to flex up our operations or cover leave.”