After 10 days of strike action, members of IUF affiliates UWU and AMIEU have won an important agreement at the Lactalis factory in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.
Under the new deal, dairy transnational corporation Lactalis will increase permanent jobs by 30 and add a strong casual to permanent conversion clause.
Other gains include:
• Wage increases of 3.6%, 3.6% and 2.9% (for the last 9 months of the agreement)
• New apprenticeships
• A commitment to keeping the factory open with $20m in investment (the company frequently threatens to close factories around Australia whenever negotiations break down).
“The people of Bendigo brought food and firewood to the striking workers and even put up placards in their front lawns. This is a win for the whole community,” said local union representative Tom Czech.
