Streets workers vote to end public ice-cream boycott

IT’S okay, summer isn’t ruined. Streets factory workers have ended a boycott of the brand’s ice creams, accepting a new wages offer.

STREETS factory workers have tonight voted to end a public boycott of the brand’s ice creams after they accepted a wages offer from its multinational owners.

A union campaign to boycott Streets ice creams started last month.

The workers at the factory at Minto, in Sydney’s south-west, voted to ratify an in-principle agreement during a meeting tonight, the ABC reports.

“Christmas has come early for Streets workers and their supporters in the Australian community,” Australian Manufacturing Workers Union NSW secretary Steve Murphy said in a statement.

Streets employee Troy Gardiner, with his family, was facing a massive pay cut..

“This is an enormous victory for fairness. We are pleased that Australians can get back to enjoying these iconic Australian-made ice creams.”

The boycott was kickstarted on October 29 after more than 140 Streets factory workers voted to run a campaign calling for a public boycott of all Streets ice-creams — including Paddle Pops, Magnums, Bubble O’Bills and Golden Gaytimes — over summer.

The British-Dutch multinational that owns Streets, Unilever, had received permission from the Fair Work Commission to terminate their enterprise bargaining agreement with staff.

Streets workers would have lost between 25 to 50 per cent of their annual salary if forced onto the award wage.

Originally published as Streets workers vote to end public ice-cream boycott