This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/nov/23/streets-factory-workers-vote-to-end-boycott-of-companys-ice-creams
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Boycott of Streets ice-creams ends as unions hail ‘huge victory’ | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Factory workers at Streets have told Australians they are now free to enjoy the company’s ice-creams this summer, declaring “the boycott has ended, we have won”. | Factory workers at Streets have told Australians they are now free to enjoy the company’s ice-creams this summer, declaring “the boycott has ended, we have won”. |
| Workers at Streets’ Minto factory voted to end the boycott on Wednesday after accepting an in-principle agreement offered by the parent company, Unilever, a vast multinational. | Workers at Streets’ Minto factory voted to end the boycott on Wednesday after accepting an in-principle agreement offered by the parent company, Unilever, a vast multinational. |
| Unilever had been attempting to terminate a collective agreement for workers at its factory in Minto, in south-west Sydney. Unilever said it needed to make changes because the factory was too expensive to run, saying it was 30% cheaper to import a Magnum Classic made in Europe than to make the same product in Sydney. | Unilever had been attempting to terminate a collective agreement for workers at its factory in Minto, in south-west Sydney. Unilever said it needed to make changes because the factory was too expensive to run, saying it was 30% cheaper to import a Magnum Classic made in Europe than to make the same product in Sydney. |
| The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union said terminating the agreement would have caused a 46% pay cut to its workers, a claim Unilever dismissed as “having no basis in fact”. | The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union said terminating the agreement would have caused a 46% pay cut to its workers, a claim Unilever dismissed as “having no basis in fact”. |
| The AMWU last month called for the boycott of such Australian summer favourites as Golden Gaytimes, Calippos, Splice blocks, Magnums, Cornettos and Paddle Pops. | The AMWU last month called for the boycott of such Australian summer favourites as Golden Gaytimes, Calippos, Splice blocks, Magnums, Cornettos and Paddle Pops. |
| It described the boycott as “the nuclear option”. The campaign sought to achieve outcomes similar to the boycott of Carlton and United Breweries last year, when workers put public and financial pressure on the brewery to reverse cuts to pay and conditions. | It described the boycott as “the nuclear option”. The campaign sought to achieve outcomes similar to the boycott of Carlton and United Breweries last year, when workers put public and financial pressure on the brewery to reverse cuts to pay and conditions. |
| The union said this week’s in-principle agreement with Unilever secured the future of the Minto site without a loss of pay, shifts or conditions. | The union said this week’s in-principle agreement with Unilever secured the future of the Minto site without a loss of pay, shifts or conditions. |
| The company had withdrawn its application to the Fair Work Commission to terminate the enterprise agreement, the AMWU said. | The company had withdrawn its application to the Fair Work Commission to terminate the enterprise agreement, the AMWU said. |
| The AMWU’s New South Wales secretary, Steve Murphy, said on Thursday the mood among workers was joyous. | The AMWU’s New South Wales secretary, Steve Murphy, said on Thursday the mood among workers was joyous. |
| BREAKING: Streets workers have won. Unilever has agreed to withdraw the application to terminate their enterprise agreement. We stopped the 46% pay cut. The boycott is officially over. pic.twitter.com/sffBAfCe3v | BREAKING: Streets workers have won. Unilever has agreed to withdraw the application to terminate their enterprise agreement. We stopped the 46% pay cut. The boycott is officially over. pic.twitter.com/sffBAfCe3v |
| “This is a victory that belongs to workers at Streets but will be celebrated by the whole union movement,” Murphy said. | “This is a victory that belongs to workers at Streets but will be celebrated by the whole union movement,” Murphy said. |
| “It’s a huge victory that these workers don’t take lightly, but we don’t forget that there are thousands of workers out there that face the same problem because our workplace laws are broken.” | “It’s a huge victory that these workers don’t take lightly, but we don’t forget that there are thousands of workers out there that face the same problem because our workplace laws are broken.” |
| A spokesman for Unilver confirmed the agreement had been reached. It would “deliver significant improvements in the flexibility of the factory” while addressing the concerns of workers, he said. | A spokesman for Unilver confirmed the agreement had been reached. It would “deliver significant improvements in the flexibility of the factory” while addressing the concerns of workers, he said. |
| “We believe this outcome is in everyone’s best interests,” the spokesman said. | “We believe this outcome is in everyone’s best interests,” the spokesman said. |
| “The proposed agreement will be put to a formal vote of employees next week. It would be inappropriate to comment further until that has occurred.” | “The proposed agreement will be put to a formal vote of employees next week. It would be inappropriate to comment further until that has occurred.” |
| We’re saying thank you, Australia, enjoy Streets this summer | We’re saying thank you, Australia, enjoy Streets this summer |
| The Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary, Sally McManus, described the win as a “huge victory” against “one of the world’s biggest multinationals”. | The Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary, Sally McManus, described the win as a “huge victory” against “one of the world’s biggest multinationals”. |
| “I absolutely believe it was the right decision by Streets – if it had of got to summer, certainly their sales would have copped an enormous hit,” she said. | “I absolutely believe it was the right decision by Streets – if it had of got to summer, certainly their sales would have copped an enormous hit,” she said. |
| She said the boycott had proven effective. It had forced the company to discount its products, a similar action taken by CUB when “things were getting tough”. Hundreds of people had contacted the company on social media, she said, adding further pressure on the company to back down. | She said the boycott had proven effective. It had forced the company to discount its products, a similar action taken by CUB when “things were getting tough”. Hundreds of people had contacted the company on social media, she said, adding further pressure on the company to back down. |
| “Our trade union movement in Australia is alive and kicking,” McManus said. | “Our trade union movement in Australia is alive and kicking,” McManus said. |
| “We are back and we are intending to use whatever is necessary to defend the rights of working people.” | “We are back and we are intending to use whatever is necessary to defend the rights of working people.” |
| McManus said it was impossible for workers to negotiate fairly when companies were able to terminate enterprise agreements. | McManus said it was impossible for workers to negotiate fairly when companies were able to terminate enterprise agreements. |
| Murphy said the workers at Minto were feeling humbled by the support from the union movement and the Australian community. | Murphy said the workers at Minto were feeling humbled by the support from the union movement and the Australian community. |
| “We’re saying thank you, Australia, enjoy Streets this summer,” he said. | “We’re saying thank you, Australia, enjoy Streets this summer,” he said. |
| McManus added: “I think it’s time for a Gaytime.” | McManus added: “I think it’s time for a Gaytime.” |