Workers at a pet food factory at Dubbo have won pay rises as big as 30 per cent in a new union agreement.
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Real Pet Food Company’s staff of about 100 employees are set to benefit from the four-year agreement, the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union reported.
Depending on their shift, some workers could be paid as much as $260 extra each week, the union reported.
The new agreement was negotiated between the Real Pet Food Company and union members at the site.
The union hailed the agreement voted on on Wednesday as a win for workers and praised the company.
“We are very happy with this new agreement,” NSW AMWU secretary Tim Ayres said.
“It is a testament to the Real Pet Food management that they are willing to invest in the long-term success of their workers and the town of Dubbo.”
The company’s workers make premium dry dog and cat food and its Purvis Lane factory operates 24 hours a day, five days a week.
For the first time, the workers who cover the afternoon and evening shifts won penalty rates to account for working unsociable hours.
This included 15 per cent loading for the afternoon shift and 30 per cent for evening shift workers.
For a full-time evening shift worker, the penalty rates alone could mean as much as $260 extra in their weekly pay packet.
All Real Pet Food employees won a pay rise of 4.5 per cent in the first year of the agreement, on top of a reclassification that increased wages by 2 per cent.
Pay rises in the subsequent years mean that workers will be receiving a 12 per cent increase in pay over the life of the agreement.
Other conditions included recognition of union delegates, improved arbitration measures and better protections from unfair dismissals.
The site was previously non-union, and its workers joined last year in an effort to improve pay and conditions at the factory.
Mr Ayres said the agreement was a reminder that workers, acting together, can win the pay and conditions they deserved.
The Dubbo factory is one of six operated by Real Pet Food Company across Australia, its website shows.