Manufacturing union opens battlefront on SPC’s mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations

The manufacturing union says it wasn’t ‘properly’ consulted on SPC’s mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations.

The AMWU says it wasn’t properly consulted on SPC’s plan to ban workers who aren’t vaccinated. Picture: Alex Coppel

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union has criticised fruit and vegetable processor SPC’s plans to ban workers and visitors who fail to get vaccinated by November, slamming it as “unrealistic”.

The AMWU said it was not “properly” consulted over SPC plans. It is understood SPC informed the union about the mandatory vaccinations on Wednesday - the same day Sydney recorded 262 new infections and five deaths, while Melbourne sweated on a potential sixth lockdown.

AMWU national president Andrew Dettmer said SPC’s requirement for staff to have their first jab booked within six weeks was “unrealistic”, with many not yet eligible for a vaccination.

The union’s action is the first shot in what is looming to become the biggest workplace issue of the year as businesses - at the request of the government - step up to ensure at least 70 per cent of the country is vaccinated to eradicate lockdowns.

“The SPC are not showing workers that they are genuinely willing to consult with them over a planned vaccine rollout,” Mr Dettmer said.

“The issue isn’t people’s willingness to get the vaccine, it’s accessibility. The responsibility for the Morrison Government’s failing rollout shouldn’t be shifted onto the shoulders of working people.

“If workers are expected to get jabs in their arms, then we need to ensure the true barriers are removed. Mandating vaccination in workplaces needs to be based on the advice of health professionals and proper risk assessment – not just a poorly consulted plan by bosses.”

But SPC took the bold step of enforcing mandatory inoculations after the federal government released AstraZeneca shots for anyone over the age of 18, provided they received clearance from their doctor after that vaccine was linked to rare blood clotting.

Federal coalition MP Damian Drum - whose electorate covers SPC’s cannery - said the company’s decision “sets the tone for corporate Australia”.

“In my opinion, people who can receive the vaccination but choose not to are being selfish and holding Australia back,” Mr Drum said.

“I applaud SPC’s decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all of its staff by the end of November. It is a courageous decision and one that sets the tone for corporate Australia, particularly in light of the threat the Delta variant poses to families, communities and business.

“I received my second dose of AstraZeneca last week, so I’m happy to be fully vaccinated and I urge others to do the same.”

SPC chairman Hussein Rifai said he has also had the AstraZeneca shot, as has his wife, mother-in-law and two children aged in their 20s.

“If we thought there was any danger and we certainly wouldn‘t have our families doing it,” Mr Rifai said.

“I‘m looking at the precedent, on how to keep my employees safe, my community safe and my country safe. That’s basically the limit of where our concern is. We don’t think we’re doing anything that’s breaching laws that could cause any major problems.

“We are humble people who make food. We want to do it better and feed our nation, so I will stay away from getting into any legal discussions or arguments or anything around that. I‘ll leave that to the lawyers and the legislatures.”

Mr Rifai introduced the mandatory vaccines to ensure SPC’s factory at Shepparton in central Victoria could keep running, describing his workers as essential, given they produce food that has been in demand, particularly during lockdown panic buying.

He said SPC workers did not have “the luxury” of working from home.

“We have got to go down (to the factory), handle food, we‘ve got to handle boxes. We are in a small community, we’ve got to take strong measures to make sure that our employees are safe, our customers are safe.

“So we honestly saw very little other options but to take this step.”

In February Foods Standards Australia said while traces of Covid-19 genetic material has been detected in China on imported food products and packaging, there were no confirmed cases of anyone becoming infected from food or food packaging.

But it reiterated a statement from the World Health Organisation that said further research was needed into the origins of the virus, particularly potential transmission through cold chain food distribution and “the food itself”.

“It’s not yet confirmed how long the virus survives or remains detectable on surfaces. Studies suggest it may be a few hours or up to several weeks. This depends on the type of surface, temperature and humidity of the environment,” Food Standards Australia said.

“We are aware that the COVID-19 virus and traces of its genetic material have been detected in China on imported food products and packaging. The WHO has recommended further investigation of frozen food and packaging as a potential source of transmission.

“We will continue to monitor and assess evidence in relation to the potential transmission of COVID-19 from food or food packaging and consider its implications for our current advice.”