Concern at union’s Saputo cheese boycott call

BRONWYN
LISSON

UNIONS representing workers at dairy company Saputo have ramped up their ongoing strike, calling for a nationwide boycott of notable dairy brands such as Cheer, Devondale, Cracker Barrel, King Island Dairy, Liddells, Mersey Valley, South Cape, and Tasmanian Heritage among others, all including ingredients manufactured by the dairy processor.

TasFarmers president Ian Sauer said there was concern for some dairy farmers.

“As the dispute goes on, there is still a degree of uncertainty among farmers about what this could mean,” he said.

“TasFarmers understands that the Saputo workers want to have pay parity with other workers around Australia, we fully understand that, and we want that issue to be resolved as soon as possible so that confidence can come back into the dairy farmers and the milk market.”

However, Flowerdale share farmer  Nathan Lawrence who supplies to Saputo isn’t too concerned about the boycotts.

“I just don’t think the boycotts are going to damage the market that much,” he said.

“The union members want the same pay as workers on the mainland, but I could say the same for us farmers,” he said.

He said that if Saputo workers were able to secure pay parity with the mainland he would hope farmers in Tasmania could secure the same pay as farmers on the mainland.

Currently the prices of milk are different to those on the mainland and Mr Lawrence said Tasmanians should get the same price. 

Tasmanian Primary Industries and Water Minister Jane Howlett has criticised the unions saying a boycott will only hurt farmers. 

“Instead of talking Tasmanian products down, which will only hurt our farmers, we encourage the union to get back to the negotiating table,” she said. 

The boycotts come after failed negotiations with Saputo to pay its members the same wage as its mainland counterparts.

Workers in Burnie, paid 21 per cent less than their Victorian counterparts, have been on indefinite strike to rectify this disparity, which Saputo exacerbated with a new inadequate offer.

“I encourage Saputo and the union to work together in good faith to deliver a deal as soon as possible,” Mr Sauer said.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) and the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) have begun a nationwide boycott of Saputo dairy products and are now targeting major retailers like Woolworths and Coles to pressure Saputo into fairer terms.

AMWU Tasmanian organiser Mick Wickham said supporters of these workers have been waiting for the call to ban all Saputo products, but striking workers wanted to give management a fair chance to do the right thing first.

CEPU Tasmanian state secretary Michael Anderson said Saputo had completely disrespected 24 striking workers by making a worse offer than was in play a month ago.

“Enough is enough, if this company thinks that it can break the spirit of this community with disrespect, they are as wrong now as they have been since negotiations started.,” Mr Anderson said.

“We’ll see if two million union members around Australia can change their mind by showing their disgust at the checkout.”