Midfield dispute resolved, but tensions remain

A major sheep and cattle processor has reached an agreement with about 100 Chinese national workers, but the simmering industrial dispute had a damaging effect on production only days out from Christmas.

ONE of Victoria’s biggest meat processors was down to only 30 per cent capacity during the past two days, following a major industrial dispute.

Work at Midfield Group’s meat processing plant at Warrnambool was disrupted on Wednesday and Thursday when about 120 Chinese nationals stopped work over workplace, visa and permanent residency issues.

Midfield general manager Dean McKenna told The Weekly Times the dispute had been resolved late today, and workers would be returning to work.

The dispute centres on tensions between the company and the 457 visa-holding workers over working conditions and the extension of visas.

Earlier this year the Federal Government made changes to visa settings during COVID-19 to allow temporary workers to remain in Australia for an additional 12 months to work in critical sectors, including food processing.

Some Midfield staff whose visas were due to expire had them extended until the end of June 2021.

What happens to those workers after that date remains unclear.

The Weekly Times understands some Chinese nationals wish to apply for permanent residency.

Mr McKenna said the decisions over visas and permanent residency sat with the Federal Government, which he called on for “greater clarity” on visas.

The dispute also involved an alleged altercation between a Chinese visa holder and a supervisor, as well as allegations of a workplace harassment, some of which were aired on social media by some workers.

Mr McKenna said allegations of poor workplace culture were “false”.

He said the company and the workers’ representatives had resolved the return-to-work terms for the visa holders.

“They (the Chinese workers) also wanted us to sort their visa out, but that is out of our hands,” Mr McKenna said.

The meat processor employs about 900 workers, of which about 150 are Chinese nationals.

It voluntarily shut down earlier this year for a short period when a meat inspector who had visited the site tested positive for coronavirus.

Earlier today Australian Meat Industry Employees Union secretary Paul Conway travelled from Melbourne to Warrnambool and met 70 Chinese visa holders at the company and some other members of the Warrnambool community supporting them.

Mr Conway alleged there were some “deep issues” within the workplace and workforce at Midfield that “go beyond visas”.

“I advised the 70 workers to return to work tomorrow, but there is much to be done yet to resolve these issues with the company, particularly in regard to (the alleged altercation and those allegedly involved),” he said.

Meanwhile, Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said the Government made changes to visa settings during COVID-19 that allowed temporary workers to remain in Australia for an additional 12 months to work in critical sectors, including food processing.

“This is available to those working at Midfield Group and has already been granted to a number of staff,” Mr Tudge said.

“Any labour agreement application from Midfield Meats or the meat industry will be assessed against the usual criteria.

“Temporary visa holders can apply for permanent residency through a number of programs.

“All applications will be assessed against the relevant criteria.

“Beyond these visa matters, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on issues related to any workplace dispute.”

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