Inghams workers proceed with strikes in WA and SA
Company fails to stop action that could disrupt chicken supplies.
Union members at Australia’s largest poultry producer, Inghams, will proceed with rolling 24-hour strikes from Friday after the company failed to secure the immediate intervention of the Fair Work Commission to try to stop the action.
More than 1000 union members at Inghams’ operations in South Australia and Western Australia plan to strike on Friday.
Workers in South Australia will continue their protected action with three more consecutive 24-hour strikes from Saturday while Western Australian workers will strike for 24 hours on Tuesday.
Following an application by the company, a Fair Work Commission hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday.
An Inghams spokeswoman said the company was “working closely with our customers to minimise any potential interruptions and maintain supply during this time”.
Inghams has commercial partnerships with Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, KFC, McDonald’s and Subway.
United Workers Union Tim Kennedy expects the strikes in support of an 18 per cent pay rise over three years will start to disrupt chicken supplies.
The union said the company on Thursday only marginally increased its offer to Western Australia employees by 0.1 per cent, bringing it into line with the 10.9 per cent increase offered to South Australian workers over three years.
“Talks went nowhere today,” Mr Kennedy said, adding he expected a significant turnout of workers to strike on Friday would put pressure on the company to soften its position.
The union has sought a 6 per cent increase annually for three years. It says many of the workers earn about $25 an hour and were seeking an extra $1.50 an hour.
The union is also seeking the right for casuals to convert to permanent employment after six months but the company has rejected the claim.
Inghams last month reported that revenue for fiscal 2023 rose 12.2 per cent to $3.04bn, and net profit lifted 72 per cent to $60.4m. It has offered pay rises of 3.9 per cent in the first year and 3.5 per cent in the second and third years.
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