After a protracted negotiation with the AWU, Tassal believes that they have made a wages offer which will be accepted by the majority of employees;

The wages offer is;

• Year 1 – 2.5% (No Backpay)
• Year 2 – 2.5% (1^st July 2022)

The AWU does not agree with the company that this is a fair offer for the following reasons:

The increase to CPI (cost of living) is currently sitting at 4.5% for Hobart (Jan 2022 qtr), the previous figures since negotiations started were 3.8% and 3%.

The last available data for private sector wages growth in Tasmania was 3%.

The RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) recently made this forecast, “average earnings per hour is forecast to be growing above 3 per cent by 2023.”

Tassal’s Financial Situation:

Tassal’s share price has increased 4.18% over the past year (2/2/22)

Net profit for the last financial year was $34.6M (this is profit after Tax and all expenditure)

A wage increase of 1% at Margate was stated by the company as costing $60,000 in year 1 – therefore, a 2.5% increase adds $150,000, a 3% increase is $180,000 for all employees covered by the agreement. The difference being $30,000 for 2.5%-3%.

In financial year 2020-21 the 15 directors and key management personnel saw their earnings increase from $3.181M in 2020 to $3.551M in 2021. That’s $370,000 distributed amongst 15 people when the company was apparently doing it tough.

The AWU finds the companies claims of hardship and uncertainty disingenuous when the facts are presented. The AWU believes the decision to not make back payment to 1^st July is petty and unnecessary.

The AWU believes that Tassal has the capacity to pass on an increase of above 3% per year and look after the workers at Margate who helped the company through an unprecedented global pandemic.

Please stand with your fellow workers and send a message to the company that their offer is unacceptable and Vote No when given the opportunity. This will give the Union the ability to seek improvement and get workers what they deserve, which is a decent pay rise.