Workers at Pernod-Ricard’s Rowland Flat winery, which produces Jacob’s Creek and St Hugo’s wines in the Barossa, staged a four-hour strike on Wednesday afternoon, over the future of their jobs and on-going workplace agreement negotiations.
More than 120 winery workers downed tools, with the United Workers Union (UWU) saying many workers are concerned about their futures, following Pernod-Ricard’s agreement to sell its Australian, New Zealand and Spanish wine brands and assets to Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL).
Workers commenced enterprise agreement negotiations in April, and a spokesperson for Pernod-Ricard said the company believes it has made a fair offer to workers and that the strike action will not impact the business.
“We truly believe that we have provided a fair and reasonable offer to our employees and are disappointed that we have been unable to reach an agreement at this stage,” the spokesperson said.
“As a business we are committed to maintaining an open dialogue with our employees to find a resolution that balances employee needs with the current industry and business requirements. This action will not affect production and will have no material impact on our business.”
UWU National Secretary accused Pernod-Ricard of trying to use the sale of the wine brands to force a short-term, low-wage deal on to workers, saying he tasted “key notes of corporate greed”.
“United Workers Union members around the country have had to push very hard for cost-of-living wage increases over the last two years.
“These winery jobs sustain our regional communities. For every dollar that is earned, it goes right back into the local community.
“Our whole union is behind the workers at Pernod Ricard, they’re on strike together, but they’re part of a movement of workers that are saying enough is enough.”
The deal for AWL to purchase the Pernod-Ricard wine brands is still subject to regulatory approval, and ultimately will see a new business formed with those wine brands in a portfolio of products alongside existing brands owned by Accolade Wines.