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Parmalat dairy workers to face Senate inquiry

Workers from milk manufacturer Parmalat who are currently in a three month lockout will face a Senate inquiry tomorrow, according to The Riverine Herald.

The inquiry being held in Ballarat is investigating claims of corporate avoidance of paying wages, under the Fair Work Act. 

A spokesperson from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union told the Riverine Herald that workers would tell the Senate about Parmalat’s actions during enterprise agreement negotiations.

‘The workers will explain to the inquiry hearing how Parmalat — and its parent company Lactalis — have tried to attack their wages and conditions by making an outrageous offer in enterprise negotiations that included a wage freeze, a reduction in rights at work and made their jobs less secure,’’ the spokesperson said.

After workers rejected an initial pay offer, the company applied to terminate the existing agreement which the AMWU claims would see wages slashed by up to 40 per cent.

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