More than 85% of Cadbury workers have voted against a non-union agreement offered by the company in Claremont, Tasmania.

AMWU Tasmanian Secretary, Anne Urquhart said the vote made it very clear that workers want their union to negotiate the terms and conditions at work in a union collective agreement.

Negotiations commenced with the company in October last year but after months of negotiations, where the company proved to be inflexible, the company tried their own non union agreement to be voted on by workers.

The company put the non-union proposal out to workers on the same day that a ballot was declared where over 70% of workers voted to participate in protected industrial action.

Ms Urquhart said the non union agreement had the same conditions that members had unanimously rejected at a mass meeting held in January.

“The company didn’t get it. The workers want their union involved in their negotiations and also wanted their union to be party to their agreement.”

Ms Urquhart said she was happy with the outcome of the vote, but not surprised at the result, given the earlier rejection of the proposal by members.

“It sends the company a strong message that the workers want the union by their side and they’re not interested in an agreement that they have had no say in.”

Workers voted to take protected industrial action in late February and they engaged in a series of four hour stoppages commencing on Saturday 15 March with the final stoppage on Wednesday 19 March, as part of their action.

Ms Urquhart said the company has indicated that it is prepared to negotiate with the union again as a result of the vote.

“We have been in discussions with them for a new agreement since late last year and they now have to understand that they can’t ignore the wish of the vast majority of their workers, that is, to have their union involved in their agreement.

“They need to do the right thing and negotiate with us in the best interest of our members and the company.”