Today, manufacturing workers from chemical manufacturing giant, Ecolab, will strike in Queensland and Victoria in pursuit of a cost-of-living pay rise and pay parity across all Ecolab sites.
In Queensland, United Workers Union (UWU) members will undertake a 24-hour stoppage and in Victoria members will strike for four hours after reaching an impasse in negotiations.
The strike is expected to impact supply chains of chemicals to various clients, including hospitals, mine sites, fast food chains, food and beverage manufacturers and water treatment plants, particularly as workers are resolved to take further action if their quest for a fair pay rise is rebuffed.
According to recent financials, the multi-billion dollar, US-based corporation has been enjoying good revenue and profit growth in the wake of COVID and registered US$5 billion in revenue last financial year, which allowed Ecolab’s chief executive to pocket around $22 million.
UWU executive director Godfrey Moase said Ecolab could more than afford to give the workers what they were asking for and could have avoided this disruption to their supply chain months ago.
“It’s the same old story, big profits being raked in and CEO remuneration skyrocketing, while the people who keep the place running are struggling to pay rent or keep up with interest rates,” Mr Moase said.
“I’m very proud of the workers who have led bargaining with the company, no small feat when you consider how unfairly weighted these negotiations usually are.
“And now they’re taking strike action and sacrificing wages during a cost-of-living crisis. It’s not a decision that they’re taking lightly, but this cohort of workers are resolved in improving things not just for themselves but for their colleagues across the country.”
“I implore Ecolab to stop being so recalcitrant and begin respecting the people who have contributed to their healthy financial position.”