An industrial dispute at McCain’s Wendouree site will continue into next week, with workers voting to reject a new enterprise bargaining agreement today.
Hepburn’s The Advocate reports that around 150 employees met out the front of the factory yesterday afternoon. They voted to at the time to reject a new EBA, and are in the third week of an industrial dispute.
Around 350 workers walked off the job earlier this month.
According to the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, members have been refused leave requests after giving ample notice, permanent workers are under-staffed, and casuals are not receiving enough shifts.
Update:
A spokesperson for McCain has contacted Manufacturers’ Monthly to explain that workers have been presented the EBA today to be reviewed prior to a vote on it, which will be anonymous and confidential and take place between September 30 and October 4.
According to the spokesperson, “around 100 of the plants’ 438 workers voted in principle to denounce the EBA at the mass meeting, but they hadn’t seen it yet. There were also CUB workers and other AMWU organisers there.”