Over 100 South Australian workers from Australia’s largest defence company, BAE Systems, walked off the job yesterday afternoon for 24 hours for better pay and conditions.
The stoppage will occur over three shifts, with the majority of those striking from 7am local time on Tuesday.
The workers have a significant global role in the advanced manufacturing of missile capability and internal structures of warplanes and warships.
They work on projects such as the NULKA, F35 Joint Strike Fighter, Typhoon, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) at the Joint Strike Fighter Advanced Machining Facility at Edinburgh in Adelaide.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union SA Assistant State Secretary Stuart Gordon said the multinational defence company keeps workers on low wages despite rising cost-of-living challenges experienced by the workforce.
The AMWU has rejected BAE System’s recent offer of a 3.75% wage increase for 2024, 3% in 2025, 3% in 2026.
Instead, the AMWU is seeking 6.5% per year, across a three-year agreement.
“BAE workers over the last four years have been paid wage increases below the cost-of-living, below CPI increases and below minimum wage increases.”
“The BAE manufacturing wage increase in 2021 was 1.5%, 2022 it was 1.5%, and in 2023 it was 2%. This equates to a 5% wage increase over 3 years. The minimum wage increase in 2023 was 5.75 % alone,” Mr Gordon said.
“BAE Systems management intends to remove the safety net of the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 from the Enterprise Agreement.”
Negotiations have been ongoing since March 2024.
There will be a media opportunity at 8am Adelaide Time Tuesday 10th September at Taranaki Road, Edinburgh Park, with 60 workers from the day shift on the picket line. The AMWU’s Stuart Gordon will be available for comment.
Media contact: Sonia Feng, 0478 599 580