Industrial fight pays off for workers at Smithton McCain chip factory

Workers at McCain’s Smithton potato processing factory have won their battle over a pay dispute that lasted over a month.

WORKERS at McCain’s Smithton potato processing factory have won their battle for a better deal after a sometimes bitter standoff.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union said the frozen food giant had agreed to an in-principle deal which will bring their wages and conditions in line with workers on the mainland.

“The days of Tasmanian workers being treated as the “poor cousin” are over,” AMWU State Secretary John Short said.

The workers - who were shut-out of the factory for almost a week when they threatened to strike - have also won paid family and domestic violence leave, double time on all overtime, and apprentices will soon earn the site rate instead of the award rate.

Workers outside McCain's Smithton potato processing factory.

After court action the lock out was deemed illegal by the Fair Work Commission. McCain then offered to back pay workers who were offsite over six days in late July and early August.

That money is yet to come through, however.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union said the Tasmanian employees would receive as 3.8 per cent pay rise in the first year, and then CPI plus one per cent in the second and third years of the agreement (with a minimum of 3 per cent and a maximum of 5 per cent in those years).

The AMWU welcomed the agreement and the thawing of industrial relations.

“McCain refused to agree to fairer sick leave provisions of 120 hours and have still not paid workers for the first lock out which was deemed unlawful by the Commission,’ the union said.

The in-principle agreement is now set to be approved by a vote of employees, before being submitted to the Fair Work Commission for final approval.

AMWU State Secretary John Short said that when the chips were down, the workers came through.

“It’s through sheer determination and solidarity that these workers secured this deal,” Mr Short said.

“This is a victory for all McCain workers across Australia, who know that having two sets of pay and conditions only divides workers the days of Tasmanian workers being treated as the “poor cousin” are over.

“We’re still waiting for the company to stump up and pay workers for the first lockout.”