McCain Foods workers will vote on their new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement this week following a month of industrial action.
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Workers have been brought from New Zealand and Tasmania to cover production shifts during a stoush the company says could threaten the viability of the production plant in Ballarat.
An outcome is expected at the end of the week after voting closes on Thursday.
McCain said supply to customers remained unaffected however conceded the extended protected action had impacted production levels.
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union claims production is “way down”, affecting supply to fast food outlets including McDonalds and KFC.
“The claim by the union is wrong,” potato production manager Karl Thin said.
“The union claims to want job security for those in the Ballarat community, but is seeking to undermine our relationships with our customers by making up these stories.
“This sort of action is bad for everyone involved.”
AMWU said the latest EBA does nothing to address concerns about under manning and job security.
Organiser Angela McCarthy denied the stalemate is over pay and workers had endorsed the pay increase proposed by the most recent EBA.
“There is nothing we’re asking for that disadvantages them cost wise.
“They have put in their horrendous shift arrangement clause that could see the company negotiating at Saturdays and Sunday at ordinary time and it also means they can implement 12 hours shifts or seven day rosters without requiring agreement from the workers.
“These are ideologies that they’re digging their heels in over.”