A group of West Footscray pastry and pie makers are stopping work indefinitely to call for increased job security for long-term casual workers and a fairer pay rise.
In addition to supplying Baker’s Delight’s Christmas mince pies, the West Footscray factory provides Coles and Woolworths with frozen pastry goods and produces Helga’s wraps.
More than 50 workers from the West Footscray site are involved in the strike action, which started on Monday, November 21, calling for a better offer for casual workers from Pampas’ owners Goodman Fielder.
The group’s demands include converting more than 15 workers to direct employment and an increase of about $1.60 per hour each year for three years.
Pampas strike delegate Lam Thanh said a number of the workers who have worked for 15 years or more remain casual.
“One of the casuals here is sick, and still has to come to work every day,” Lam said.
“She has worked hard for the company; she should be able to stay home on leave.
“Rather than employing the casuals who have worked hard for the company 15 years or longer, full time jobs have been given to people who have never worked here before.”
United Workers Union organiser Andy Giles said the workers are requesting a pay rise which recognises the rising cost of living.
“We are hearing a lot in the news right now about how workers in Australia need a pay rise,” he said.
“Pampas is willing to risk a national pastry and mince pie shortage just because they want to keep long-term, skilled, committed workers on low wages and stressful, insecure contracts.”
Most workers at the site are from migrant backgrounds, earn $27.61 an hour and are struggling to make ends meet as inflation soars above seven per cent.
The group’s petition calling for support for the strike action includes more than 950 signatures at the time of publication.
