38 workers at Newcastle’s Orica plant have voted this morning to go on strike.
The action is in response to the company’s plans to change their rosters.
The workers from the Ammonium Nitrates plant on Kooragang Island will strike for five days, shutting down the ammonium nitrate and nitric acid plants.
A worker at the plant has told NBN News Orica management was given more than 72 hours notice of the strike, but “refused to budge” on the issue after weeks of talks.
In a statement from the Australian Workers Union, Assistant Secretary John Boyd said ” The hostile approach taken towards negotiations by the new management team has resulted in the company losing the goodwill of their workforce. Our members have no claims on the table and are in dispute with Orica to keep current entitlements such as family friendly work rosters and flexibility when taking leave that would result in major lifestyle changes for those employees at the Nitrates plant.”
Orica have also released a statement assuring there will be no disruption to customers.
Orica Kooragang Island General Manager, Greg Holmes said the company is committed to resolving the dispute.
“Orica has been bargaining in good faith with out employees since October 2012. We believe we have presented a fair and reasonable four-year package that provides a good salary increase in the current economic climate. ”
