By ANEEKA SIMONIS
AFTER an 11-day union lockout, workers at Longwarry Food Park are returning to work after striking a deal with Parmalat, the union has said.
Some 50 dairy workers who protested during the lockout will received a 9.6 per cent wage increase over the next three years and rostered days off for the first time.
All labour hire casual workers with 12 months continued service will be offered a full-time permanent job and contract workers will also be offered pathways to permanent employment.
Long service leave entitlements were also extended as part of the EBA negotiation, according to a National Union of Workers spokesperson.
The union agreement was reached late on Friday 15 July, 11 days after workers were locked out by Parmalat which reacted after industrial action was due to be taken by workers that morning.
Workers held a protest vigil at the front of the site during the lockout.
A petition was launched by the union to “respect” workers by ending the lockout.
It received 239 signatures, 61 short of its goal laid out in the #ItsOnlyFair online campaign.
Workers were scheduled to return to work at 6am on Tuesday 18 July.
The Gazette contacted Parmalat for comment but it did not respond by the time of publication
In an earlier statement, Parmalat described the former EBA package offered to dairy workers as “fair and reasonable”.
