Media Release
Thursday 3rd
December, 2009
Heinz baby foods locks out 70 workers in
Echuca indefinitely
Workers at Heinz Baby Foods in Echuca were shocked and dismayed last night
to discover they had been locked out indefinitely for refusing to attend work team
meetings.
The company wants to change the current shift pattern, which has been in place
for nine years, in the new EBA.
AMWU Regional Secretary of the Food and Confectionary Division, Tom Hale
said that they had been in EBA negotiations for five months, but talks had
faltered over this contentious issue of work life balance.
“This shift pattern is a way of life for these workers, their family life and recreation
is built around it and has been for nine years,” said Mr Hale.
“It’s a lot to ask them to suddenly change their entire lives and not have any
flexibility about it.
“Our members are upset to have to uproot their way of life when alternatives can
be found, and now to be locked out of work for expressing their views seems
extreme.
“The reason given by Heinz Baby Foods for the refusal to let workers onto the
premises is their refusal to attend team meetings.
“The workers feel strongly about the shift changes because it affects their time
with family and friends.
“They expressed this by refusing to attend team meetings, and now Heinz has
decided to punish them by locking them out indefinitely.
“We will be talking to the company and to workers on the site to seek a
resolution,” said Mr Hale.
For more information or interviews please contact Tom Hale on 0425 762
863 or Anaya Latter on 0432 121 636.
NEWS 
