The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) claimed yesterday that the impending strikes would impact on Visy clients such as Victoria Bitter and Coca-Cola.
The union has announced that 400 workers from Visy sites in Victoria and NSW will strike indefinitely from this Friday. At the same time, workers at WA and Queensland sites will “undertake other forms of industrial action”.
AMWU national secretary of the printing division Lorraine Cassin said: “This action has the potential to adversely impact on a number of important Visy customers including VB, Fosters, Nestle and Coca-Cola Amatil.”
But drinks brands ProPrint spoke to said they would simply move carton production to another Visy site if they are adversely affected.
Foster’s Group spokesperson Liz McLachlan told ProPrint the company doesn’t expect the strike to have any major impact on packaging production or halt beer supplies over Christmas, as has been widely reported in the national media.
“Less than 5% of our packaging is coming from sites affected by industrial action. Any shortfall will be covered by other sites, so at this stage there’ll be no impact on beer supplies,” she said.
Coca-Cola Amatil director of media and public affairs Sally Loane also told ProPrint the company is “not likely to be affected by the Visy strike”.
“We are working closely with Visy to ensure that supply of packaging remains unaffected, and at this stage we are confident that there will be no disruption to our ability to supply customers with product,” she said.
The indefinite strike follows a 24-hour strike on Monday that took place at Visy sites at O’Connor in WA, Dandenong in Victoria, Smithfield and Warwick Farm in NSW, and Carole Park in Queensland.
Visy refused to comment on the strike to ProPrint earlier this week, saying company policy “is to comment directly with its employees rather than through the media”.
The strikes come as the union and Visy negotiate an enterprise bargaining agreement. The union is seeking an agreement that includes staggered pay increases over the next three years, as well as a “comprehensive dispute resolution clause” and a “heat policy that protects workers during days of extreme heat”.
“This latest action will be challenging for the workers and their families as they head into Christmas as well. They haven’t taken this lightly,” Cassin said.
“However, our members around Australia voted unanimously for this action. They are seriously concerned about the implications of Visy’s proposed agreement and they are tired of being ignored.”
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