SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 – Cadbury workers across two sites in Melbourne will take strike action in a call for secure jobs, and better pay and conditions.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) say nearly 360 Cadbury workers were forced to take strike action after the company have delayed converting them to permanent roles, some for as long as ten years.
While chocolate sales have gone through the roof during the COVID-19 pandemic, the essential food workers who’ve kept Australia stocked up on chocolate are being left behind without secure jobs, and decent pay and conditions.
The AMWU say some workers have been in casual roles at Cadbury for up to ten years and the global confectionery giant are refusing to make them permanent.
Workers will be on strike from Friday 17 until early Saturday morning and will refuse to work any overtime hours until Monday 20 September in their call for secure jobs, and better pay and conditions.
Quotes attributable to AMWU National Secretary Steve Murphy:
“Chocolate has been one of our core comforts during lockdowns, but it doesn’t taste as sweet when workers aren’t being treated fairly.
“These workers just want certainty and security, but found that working for Cadbury is like a box of chocolates – they never know what they’re going to get.
“Cadbury workers who’ve helped the company’s sales boom during a pandemic deserve secure jobs – jobs they can count on.
“Insecure work makes life more difficult and divides our nation. Workers at Cadbury are standing together so that every worker is treated with dignity and can feel secure at work.”
Quotes attributable to AMWU State Secretary (Victoria) Tony Mavromatis
“Cadbury workers are on strike today, to demand secure jobs and better pay and conditions. Some of these workers have been in insecure work for up to ten years.
“Cadbury workers have kept us stocked up with chocolate during the pandemic, but Cadbury haven’t been sweet to their workers.
“These workers aren’t asking for the whole block, they just want their piece.”
ENDS - For further comment: Kate Shuttleworth 0447 418 726