Lion has put forward a new enterprise agreement to its Queensland dairy workers, following a 24-hour strike at its Dairy Farmers factory in Crestmead, Logan, at the end of last year.
Adam Portelli, national industrial officer for the National Union of Workers, told F&DB that the two-year agreement, which is yet to be accepted, offers a four per cent pay increase for the first year and a three per cent increase for the second year.
He added that all workers at the facility, including contract workers, would be guaranteed the site rate of pay for the first time. Lion has already made this provision for its Victoria-based dairy workers.
The agreement would also recognise four additional public holidays: Labour Day, Australia Day, Anzac Day and Ekka Show Day. Queensland dairy workers would be offered a penalty rate of pay if they work on these days. Only Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday are recognised as public holidays under the current agreement.
Workers are expected to vote on whether to accept or reject the agreement in the next seven to 10 days. However, Portelli said that it was the National Union of Workers' understanding that the agreement would be accepted.
Dairy workers from the Crestmead factory went on strike for 24 hours in a bid for better pay and conditions from parent company Lion on 24 December 2012. Queensland's milk supply was affected by the blockade of almost 100 workers, who stopped milk trucks from entering the factory on 24 December last year.
"These Queensland workers get paid significantly less than their counterparts in other states for effectively the same job - it's the same milk," National Union of Workers spokesman Duncan Pegg told ABC radio.
"They're after a reasonable wage increase and they've only had three public holidays a year, so they're after more public holidays. "The third thing is looking at improved job security as well."
Pegg added the strike will affect milk supply.
"What we say about that though is that Lion has been well aware of this dispute and action for some time, so it shouldn't come as any surprise to them," he said.
