JULY 20, 2021 – Essential food workers at McCain Foods in Tasmania who’ve kept food on the table during a pandemic are being threatened with being locked out over a call for better pay and conditions.
McCain Foods workers called on the frozen food giant for better pay and conditions after four years of being left out in the cold with pay increases that didn’t keep up with inflation.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) in Tasmania say the workers bent over backwards to support the company during COVID, taking pay cuts, but McCain Foods had refused a pay rise.
The AMWU say it’s an equity issue for food workers at McCain Foods in Tasmania as workers on the mainland received better and conditions and food workers as do similar workers at companies like Simplot.
The McCain workers work on the production line, in packaging, logistics, maintenance and storage.
Quotes attributable to AMWU State Secretary (Tasmania) John Short
“We’re saying no to McCain’s frozen wage offer, it’s unacceptable to expect essential workers to bend over backwards during a pandemic and then in return leave them out in the cold.
“These essential food workers have helped keep food on the table during a pandemic and now they’re faced with being denied better pay and conditions and being locked out of work – it’s a disgrace.
“McCain workers took a pay cut to help the company through COVID, and now the company are threatening to lock them out.”