Bindaree Beef workers to walk off the job

According to the Meat Workers Union (AMIEU Newcastle and Northern NSW), despite more than 20 meetings with Bindaree Beef the issue of staff wages hasn’t been resolved. 

The Inverell plant employs more than 700 people with AMIEU secretary Grant Courtney claiming 97 per cent of their Bindaree Beef members voted to approve the industrial action.

“It’s clear that enough is enough,” he said.

"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."

But, Bindaree Beef said they had been negotiating in good faith and in the last 18 months had introduced a number of shift changes and new machinery to increase productivity and wages.

In a statement to media, Bindaree Beef stated that from July, employees had received a 3.5 per cent wage increase on base wages.

The company said a boner staff member received $1500 to $1800 per week, a slicer was on $1300 to $1550 and a slaughterman received $1450 to $1555. 

“As part of the wage offer, Bindaree Beef has offered to increase the minimum base rate of every employee under this agreement by between 10.1 per cent and 24.25 per cent,” a spokesman said. 

“The meat industry on the east coast of Australia is expecting a significant drop in production over the next 12 months due to the drought.

“There are currently many abattoirs only working three to four days per week. Bindaree Beef has up until this time been able to maintain five days per week production ensuring full employment.” 

Employee wage wars have been an ongoing issue for the company, stretching some years. 

According to Forbes, Bindaree Beef owner, Hui Wing Mau, is believed to have a real time net worth of $7 billion.

The industrial action will take place at the park on the corner of Gwydir Highway and Campbell Street, Inverell from 11am.