Saputo milk workers at Allansford plan to strike on Wednesday, October 18.

Union mass meetings held across 13 sites in regions, including the south-west, over the past week have seen 1400 members overwhelmingly voting to strike from October 18.

"Dairy workers have been dedicated, especially during the pandemic, with some even agreeing to wage offers as low as 1.5 per cent to support their companies. But with the soaring cost-of-living, they believe it's time for change," United Workers Union National Secretary Tim Kennedy said, expressing the workers' sentiments.

Mr Kennedy said the strike focused on extremely profitable dairy companies operating in regional areas.

"This is more than a wage tug-of-war; it's about safeguarding the heartbeat of our regional communities," he said.

Earlier:

Saputo Dairy Australia has reiterated it will continue to negotiate with Allansford workers in the hope of avoiding strike action during current EBA negotiations.

Workers in three divisions of the Allansford milk processing plant currently plan to take strike action on Wednesday next week, October 18.

"SDA remains committed to continuing negotiations in good faith to reach an agreement for our valued workers and our intent is to resolve outstanding items with union representatives amicably and swiftly," SDA director of operations Gerard Lourey said on Friday morning.

"We are also actioning contingency measures to minimise business disruptions and keeping our customers, business partners and farmer suppliers updated on any temporary impacts they may experience."

The United Workers Union has this morning also committed to providing an update on the planned strike action and its view of the ongoing EBA negotiations.

Earlier:

Saputo workers at the Allansford milk factory are planning to take protected strike action from next Wednesday, October 18.

The company and three different divisions of factory workers are currently in enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations.

It's understood that one group of workers have been offered the four percent pay rise they were seeking.

But at this stage they are still planning to strike in an act of solidarity alongside their colleagues.

Another section of the worker force was offered 10 per cent over three years as the company attempts to have workers on similar pay for similar work.

Different pay rates have been an ongoing issue for the best part of 20 years at the factory.

Negotiations are continuing.

If there is a strike, fresh milk processing would be the most affected sector and risks being moved permanently off-site.

A Saputo spokesperson reiterated a statement made last week.

"We are committed to continuing negotiations in good faith to reach an agreement for SDA's valued workers at our sites," she said.

In addition it's been reported that Federal agriculture minister Murray Watt has requested some clarity from company chairman and CEO Lino Saputo about his future plans after a story published in The Standard last week.

Mr Saputo told the annual CIBC Eastern Institutional Investor Conference in Montréal, Québec, on Thursday, September 28, that the company planned to halve the number of its Australian processing plants.

He said the "right sizing" of the Australian operation would be completed by the beginning of next fiscal year, the end of March 2024.

Saputo announced the closure of its processing plant at Maffra, Victoria, in November 2022.

It also announced it was streamlining activities at its plants in Leongatha in West Gippsland and Mil-Lel, near Mount Gambier, South Australia.

In April Saputo also announced plans to sell its Laverton, Victoria, and Erskine Park, NSW, sites to Coles.

That sale is being examined by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which on September 14 announced it was delaying that decision to seek more information.

Its 2023-24 supplier handbook lists another seven processing sites: Allansford, Leongatha, Cobram and Kiewa in Victoria and King Island, Smithton and Burnie in Tasmania.

At least one of those factories is expected to close.

Last week United Workers Union national dairy coordinator Neil Smith said the fact workers had found out about Saputo's plans to close dairy facilities in Australia through the media spoke volumes about the lack of respect shown to workers and their communities.

"The decision to close a dairy processing plant has a devastating effect on our regional communities and such threats should not be made lightly," he said. "Saputo must be upfront with workers about any plans that will lead to site closures.

"United Workers Union will continue to seek further clarity on this issue."

In late July maintenance workers at Allansford's Saputo factory ended their industrial action over wage increases after more than a fortnight of action.

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union state organiser Tony Hynds said the workers had reached an agreement with Saputo.

The workers were being offered a 13 to 14 per cent wage increase over four years, but were asking for 16 per cent.

The union has been asked for further comment in relation to the current EBA negotiations.

More to come.

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