The United Workers Union negotiated an in-principle deal with Fonterra on Thursday, October 27 for workers at the company’s Cobden, Stanhope and Darnum sites.
Fonterra operations director Rob Howell said the company was pleased to make the offer to employees for consideration but reiterated that an agreement could have been reached without the strike action.
“This offer is largely in line with what was previously on the table, following months of negotiations with the union,” Mr Howell said.
“Industrial action unfortunately reduced the pay packets of striking union members.”
The offer includes an increase in wages of five, four and three per cent, respectively, in each of the next three years.
The package also includes a $500 sign-on bonus and more leave options for staff.
It also includes improved protections for workers and recognition of return-to-work union delegates to support members if injured at work.
“Throughout these negotiations, we have been focused on reaching an agreement that was fair for our people, our farmers, our customers and the regional communities in which we operate,” Mr Howell said.
The two-day strike at 13 sites on October 18 and 19 disrupted supplies of dairy goods and imposed limits on milk in some supermarkets.
A six-day strike of 300 Fonterra dairy workers from Saturday, October 28 was avoided on Thursday when the deal was reached.
“These are working people in regional areas who have shown great courage in standing up to large multinational dairy companies,” United Workers Union national secretary Tim Kennedy said.
Mr Kennedy said workers had been advocating “not just for themselves”.
“They were fighting for secure jobs in regional communities, where every dollar they spend goes back into those communities,” he said.
“Their fight also gave a national platform in the battle for profitable companies to pay a fair share of their profits to help workers address the cost-of-living crisis.”
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