Bakery workers strike for more dough
The mood on the picket line at the Allied Pinnacle factory in the Melbourne suburb of Altona North is infectious. Although there have been strikes at the facility—which is a major producer of baked good for supermarkets and bakeries—in 2017 and 2022, for most of the workforce, this is their first experience of industrial action.
The workers sing and dance, get to know each other, fire up the barbeque and have a great time. “If you ever get the chance to, go on strike! It’s a once in a lifetime feeling of everyone you know coming together, and when you feel the support it’s an amazing experience!”, one worker says.
Allied Pinnacle produces chocolate mud cakes, donuts, muffins and bread loaves for Coles, Woolworths and Bakers’ Delight amongst others. The factory usually has nine production lines running night and day, all but one of which were shut down by the strike, with one being partially operated by non-union casuals.
The 48-hour strike, which began on 14 May, involved around 150 United Workers Union members across three shifts. Their demands included improved conditions, better allowances and a pay increase. For all the high spirits on the picket line, the stakes for the workers are high. Management made visits to the picket to issue warnings or make complaints, and threatened to call the police. When they did, the workers surrounded them chanting “Union power!” until they left.
When delivery trucks tried to enter the Allied Pinnacle site, the first thing they saw was the picket line with dozens of workers. After a friendly conversation, the most drivers turned around and drove off with a supportive honk of the horn. This was met with cheering and clapping on the picket line.
Allied Pinnacle workers are paid between $26 and $35 per hour. They are fighting for a 15 percent pay increase over the next three years and increased penalty rates for nights, weekends and public holidays. At the moment, the vast majority of the workers rely on overtime and weekend penalties to earn a liveable wage, with many working six-day weeks or multiple jobs just to get by. The ongoing housing crisis and cost-of-living crisis has made this situation untenable for many of them.
To make matters worse, management recently made scheduling changes to reduce the amount of penalty rates workers receive. Previously, the standard work schedule was Tuesday to Saturday with eight hours work per day. That has been changed to a Monday to Thursday schedule with 10-hour days, with no overtime included and avoiding Saturday penalties. This has amounted to a significant cut in take home pay for the affected workers.
Another grievance workers have is to do with casual conversion. Management has an arbitrary system for granting permanent jobs to the workers in the factory. Some have reported being on casual contracts for up to six years before being offered permanent work, despite doing regular hours, and performing the duties of other permanent staff.
Striking workers have also reported that when the outside temperature is 30 degrees or more, the inside of the factory, particularly near the ovens, can reach more than 40 degrees, with only a few floor fans provided for relief from the heat. Management is aware of the heat issue in the factory, but instead of resolving it, they responded by authorising a $100,000 upgrade to the air conditioning in the managers’ offices.
One worker detailed to me how safety rules are commonly flouted to speed up production. Workers are frequently expected to lift 25-kilogram bags of sugar and butter by themselves, contrary to the safety guidelines. Repetitive lifting of heavy weight causes risks to these workers over the course of the day and many complain of back and leg pain at the end of their shifts.
The two-day strike is just the beginning of this campaign. Workers expect further industrial action in the next few weeks. Supporters are encouraged to come and visit future picket lines at 23-29 Pinnacle Road, Altona North.
