31 October 2023
NSFS reference: 16
Issue date: 31 October 2023
Date of effect: Immediate
Contact officer:
Brett Evans
Director, Meat Export Program
exportmeatoperations@aff.gov.au
Further to advice provided by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the Department) to industry stakeholder groups, I am writing to advise you that the Department has received an official Notice of Industrial Action by CPSU members. This protected industrial action (PIA) is in accordance with the requirements of Section 414 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
The PIA is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 8 November 2023 and Friday 10 November 2023. This PIA will involve Meat Inspectors and On Plant Veterinarians at all meat processing plants in all states and territories.
On Wednesday 8 November 2023, the PIA will take the form of a stoppage of work for 1 hour. The action will start 1 hour before the employee's rostered, scheduled or ordinary finish time on that day. The notice also schedules a ban on performing overtime. The action will start at 00:00 hours local time and end at 23:59 hours local time.
On Friday 10 November 2023, the PIA will take the form of a stoppage of work for 1 hour and 10 minutes. The action will start 1 hour before the employee's rostered, scheduled or ordinary finish time on that day. The notice also schedules a ban on performing overtime. The action will start at 00:00 hours local time and end at 23:59 hours local time.
It is unclear whether this PIA will occur at every establishment, some or none.
With previous PIA undertaken by CPSU, industry have been able to lessen the impact of any PIA by rescheduling production, producing for domestic or alternate markets, etc. Therefore, you are encouraged to take all reasonable steps to mitigate the risks associated with any stoppage of work or overtime ban which may occur at your establishment on Wednesday 8 November 2023 and Friday 10 November 2023.
The department has a very limited capacity to mitigate the impacts of this PIA to industry at the national level but is endeavouring to do everything reasonably possible to assist. The department will reach out to each establishment prior to Wednesday 8 November to discuss the potential impact of the proposed industrial action and options available to minimise impact.