United Voice News
Bakers win more dough
Members at Goodman Fielder bakeries across Victoria have won major increases in pay and conditions in their new union agreement.
The three-year deal includes pay increases of 17.1% and $2000 worth of cash bonuses.
Shift workers will now get five weeks of annual leave — an increase of one week. Members will also have access to five extra days of carers leave.
Goodman Fielder Clayton delegate Graeme Harcoan is proud of the new deal.
“It’s a pretty good win for us,” he said.
“We got this deal because we signed up everybody to the union. We signed up 15 workers in this bakery alone.”
“If we hadn’t signed them up the company could have kept working with scab labour if we’d gone on strike.”
Ballarat delegate David Hoare agreed the extra members made a big difference.
“Without those extra members, the company would have dictated the terms.”
The pay increases will be a big help, he said.
“We need this money to get to work and keep up with rising costs.”
“The company made a big profit last year. So it’s good that some of it’s getting passed on to the workers,” he said.
