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Home » 2007 » #731 » Australian News » Foster's workers fight for union agreement

Paul Benedek, Brisbane

Workers are holding pickets at the brewery gates at least three times a week — on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2-6pm, as well as some night-time pickets — in order to win the same conditions as their counterparts around Australia.

Foster’s worker and ETU member Correy Johnson told Green Left Weekly, “We get 35% less pay than [the CUB site in] Melbourne. That’s despite this brewery being the most efficient in Australia.” All other Foster’s sites in Australia are unionised and receive better pay and conditions.

“All we want is to be heard”, Phil Bieganski, the LHMU delegate at the brewery told GLW at one of the pickets. “Management refuses to discuss anything with the workers. The company has millions of dollars and endless solicitors, while we are just working people — that’s why we need a union agreement. The company won’t even let elected union representatives speak on our behalf.”

While Foster’s is denying a union agreement and keeping workers on 35% below their counterparts in other states, Foster’s profit for 2006-07 was $936 million. The Foster’s CEO Trever O’Hoy recently received a 12.5% cash pay rise on top of his $3 million annual salary.

After the first non-union agreement put to the workers was voted down, the company offered virtually the same agreement with a one-off “payment” of $1000 to accept the agreement. At the same time, the company hired 30 casuals and gave them the right to vote on the agreement. Despite these tactics of bribery, the workers voted down the second offer. The company is now putting a third non-union offer to the workers.

ETU organiser Scott Wilson told GLW how far the workers had come. “This is the first stoppage in 20 years at this site. Now the blokes have voted down two non-union agreements and are fighting hard.” The unions have held several rallies, including a 400-strong march on CUB headquarters on October 5.

However, the Work Choices legislation is hampering the Foster’s campaign. While some trucks are refusing to cross the picket line, others — many of them “owner-drivers” who are non-union — are crossing the lines. While the workers are marching in front of the company gates, Work Choices threatens huge fines for any union members or officials whose picketing impedes business. Many workers expressed frustration at trucks and scab workers being allowed into the brewery.

Johnson also outlined how the anti-union laws are affecting the workers. “My shift was supposed to finish at 3.30, but because I came out to the picket at 2, I get docked 4 hours’ pay. So I’ve basically given two-and-a-half hours of work to the company for free. Other guys have been docked four hours for finishing work half an hour early.” Coming from strongly unionised Melbourne, Johnson noted that the importance of a union agreement was “not only for now, but we need a union agreement for our future. We should be union wherever we go.”

Wilson urged fellow unionists and community supporters to get behind the Foster’s struggle.

“We need people to come down to the picket lines and support the workers. People should also not be buying Foster’s products, and can send a message to Foster’s management.” The unions are also circulating a “drinkers’ petition” in hotels around the city calling on Foster’s to treat its employees in all states equally and negotiate a union agreement at Yatala.

To offer help in the Foster’s campaign, phone Scott on 0419 721 047.

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