Unions claim win in pay parity fight at Saputo’s Burnie factory

Tasmanians are “no longer the poor cousin” a union has proclaimed after workers at Saputo’s Burnie factory have won pay parity with their interstate counterparts.

Burnie Saputo Dairy Australia maintenance workers enter their 12th week of industrial action demanding pay parity with the mainland. Picture: Supplied

Workers at Saputo’s Burnie factory have won pay parity with their interstate counterparts after a 20-week strike.

The Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union proudly announced the end of the strike on Tuesday.

Maintenance workers have secured a 21.7 per cent increase to achieve pay parity with Saputo employees performing the same roles in Victoria.

The company makes diary brands including Cheer, Devondale, Cracker Barrel, Great Ocean Road, King Island Dairy, Liddells, Mersey Valley, South Cape, and Tasmanian Heritage — on which unions have lifted their boycott.

The company was contacted for comment.

AMWU Tasmania State Secretary Jacob Batt said the campaign had been hard fought – and the outcome was welcome.

“AMWU and CEPU members and their families have shown incredible strength, and this agreement is a win not only for them but all Tasmanians. This result has shown loudly that Tasmanians are no longer the poor cousin of the mainland,” he said.

“While the list is long, we would especially like to thank the unrelenting backing throughout an extensive strike period from other trade unions, Unions Tasmania, the ACTU, the IUF, and international affiliates, as well as state and federal politicians who supported the workers.”

Saputo Dairy Australia workers from Burnie on Parliament Lawns Hobart. Picture: Elise Kaine

CEPU Tasmania State Secretary Chris Clark said the result held tremendous implications for Tasmanian workers.

“This outcome is testament to the resilience and unity of these union members, who stood together to show Tasmanian workers must be treated the same as those in other states.

“CEPU and AMWU members are proud to have helped lay the foundations for pay parity for all Tasmanians.”

“We are pleased Saputo Dairy has listened to the voices of its workers and taken this meaningful step to ensuring Tasmanians are treated the same as other Australians. We look forward to fostering a cooperative relationship with Saputo built on respect and trust.”

Labor leader Dean Winter congratulated the unions on the outcome.

“The Saputo workers stood up on behalf of all Tasmanian workers to prove that we aren’t worth less,” he said.

“They sacrificed a lot by going on strike for 20 weeks and they won – which is a proud win for them, and a proud win for Tasmania.”

Greens workplace relations minister Helen Burnet said the outcome was a huge victory for the workers.