Biscuit workers at the Arnott’s condemned factory in Burwood went on strike last Friday, amid claims that the firm’s managers had negotiated a secret redundancy deal that discriminated against them. The employees have now been ordered to attend an emergency Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) hearing at 3 pm today.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Arnott’s announced its plans to close the factory later next year last month. The closure is expected to entail the loss of more than 600 jobs and agreement over redundancy packages for the contracted and casual workers has been hard to reach.


No biscuits have left the factory since 10am last Friday, when the workers discovered that contract workers recovered preferential redundancy packages. Their packages included an extra five days payout per year of service, and an EBA salary increase that would be effective a month before those given to union workers.  


“The staff employees were given their package last week and told it was a confidential agreement but of course the first thing they did was show it to the other workers,” explained Terry Breheny, who is state secretary for the Liquor Hospitality Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU).


“We’re not talking about a lot of money here. It was a silly move by management, they have aggravated the situation,” he added.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

A picket line was also formed on Saturday morning after Arnott’s cancelled weekend overtime.


A spokeswoman from Arnott’s, which is owned by US-giant Campbell Soup Co, said that the company was disappointed, because workers had already voted in favour of accepting the redundancy package they were offered.


A statement from Arnott’s is due to be released later today.