Meat workers at Aldi supplier Bindaree Beef in Inverell in northern NSW will walk off the job on Wednesday 24 October 2018 after months of negotiations with company management.
Even as the cost of living continues to increase, Bindaree Beef and its billionaire owner Hui Wing Mau have refused to budge, telling workers they need to make do with what they have.
In the last twelve months, electricity prices rose 10.4%, gas prices rose 7.1%, and transport costs rose 5.2%. Bindaree Beef workers are struggling, but the company refuses to help them.
Despite more than twenty meetings, Bindaree Beef has only agreed to pay the absolute minimum increase required by the Fair Work Commission’s recent Award review.
Hui Wing Mau is Australia’s 8th richest man, with an estimated net worth of $7.2 billion. In 2017, the property tycoon acquired a 51% stake in the Bindaree Beef operation for more than $150 million.
Bindaree Beef has a highly profitable arrangement with Aldi supermarkets, supplying high-quality, retail-ready meat to consumers across the country.
Unlike Mr. Mau, who never needs to worry about paying his bills, the workers at Bindaree Beef are facing financial uncertainty and are worried about their families and their mortgages.
“Our members are absolutely disappointed that they have had to resort to this,” said AMIEU Newcastle & Northern NSW Secretary Grant Courtney. “These are hard-working people from rural NSW who just want to do their jobs and get back to spending time with their families.”
“However, with an overwhelming 97% of our Bindaree Beef members voting to approve this industrial action, it’s clear that enough is enough. Bindaree Beef and its billionaire boss are desperately out of touch with what their workers need.
“Bills are rising and rising, and it’s simply not good enough that even after months of negotiations, Bindaree Beef still refuses to put a genuine wage offer on the table that even keeps up with increases in the cost of living.”
More information:
Grant Courtney
Secretary
AMIEU Newcastle & Northern NSW
PH: (02) 4929 5496
amieu@meatworker.com.au