Workers are on their fifth day of industrial action over a pay dispute, deepening fears of a Dare iced coffee shortage.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Dozens of staff walked off the job in NSW in pursuit of a pay rise from their employer Bega.
Earlier this week negotiations failed to secure a 7 per cent pay rise in the first year and 5 per cent in the years following.
The workers at the site, who make Dare iced coffee and process Dairy Farmers brand milk, say they accepted a roll-over offer during COVID-19 that included real wage cuts.
The Penrith site employs about 100.
"We were risking our families to come here and make them plenty of money over the COVID period. Took a low pay rate, hoping that at the end we'd be given something a little bit better, but its clearly not because we've actually gone backwards since then," Bega Penrith employee and United Workers Union delegate Scott said in a video posted on social media.
"We're standing up for our rights, a fair pay rate."
The union has warned industrial action would continue if the dairy giant did not agree to a 7 per cent pay rise in the first year and 5 per cent in subsequent years.
Bega has been contacted for comment.
IN OTHER NEWS:
