SPC Ardmona workers' efforts to improve efficiency commended

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has slammed an opinion piece in The Australian which accuses SPC Ardmona workers of being overpaid and undercommitted to helping the company through its struggles.

“SPC Ardmona workers, while not responsible for the company’s current problems, have made every effort to support the company through the current situation,” said Damian King, ETU organiser.

“SPC workers in enterprise agreement negotiations have offered to have no wage increase for the first 12 months of the agreement. We have also made proposals to change work break arrangements to improve efficiency.

“The workers are making these offers notwithstanding SPC’s market and profit growth trajectory following a fall in the high Australian dollar, a reduction in dumped products from overseas and improved access to the major supermarkets’ shelves.”

King urged the government to respect SPC Ardmona employees and refrain from making “false and misleading claims about employment conditions”.

Victorian Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie told The Australian that SPC is doing the work needed to keep costs down.

“I back the Prime Minister absolutely in that we shouldn’t throw good money after bad, which is why this case is very different to the assistance for the auto industry,” Senator McKenzie said.

“The onus is on SPC Ardmona but I think they have a very strong case. To let SPC Ardmona go would be incredibly devastating for the Goulburn Valley and those communities.”

“I understand there have been negotiations going on and there are agreements to make the workforce more productive,” Liberal MP Dr Sharman Stone told The Australian. “To suggest that it’s all about high wages - I find that very disappointing.

“We haven’t had a concerted effort to address the crisis in this country with manufacturers, particularly food manufacturers.

“I have not heard one Liberal or National Party politician suggest that they will take a pay cut to help balance the Federal Budget,” said King. “It is outrageous that these politicians, who are paid far more than any worker at SPC Ardmona, are now saying that the pay and conditions of workers should be reduced.”