What’s wrong with Coles and Baiada Poultry?

• Coles sources 80% of its chicken from Baiada Poultry. They are Baiada’s largest customer.

•  Coles needs to take responsibility for the conduct of their major suppliers. They have an ‘Ethical Sourcing Code’ but they don’t follow it.

•  Coles must stop profiteering off Baiada’s exploitative work conditions and tell the company to respect their workers.

The workers at the Baida chicken factory in Laverton are refusing to work.  The factory is unsafe. Management bullies its employees. The people are paid low wages, sometimes cash-in-hand rates of only $10/hr. There is no job security.

A year ago, a worker was forced to clean a machine while it was still running. He was caught in it and decapitated. His fellow workers were then asked to clean the machine and work an extra hour without pay – the time the machine was stopped to remove the dead worker. Last month two women collapsed from exhaustion after being forced to work a 20 hour shift. If you complain, you lose your job!

Community members have supported the workers union action by stopping the work at the factory. On Friday 11/11/11, Victorian police tried to break through the line of community supporters and reopen this processing centre. Through the collective strength of those defending the workers, they failed. The protest against Baida continues!

The family which owns Baiada is one of the richest families in Australia. At the last count they were worth $495 million! Premier Baillieu, responsible for the use of police against people, is a member of a family also worth $495 million! Workers at Baiada have been earning as little as $10/hr.

Coles says:

It expects its suppliers to comply with all local laws and regulations regarding labour and employment. Illegal labour is not permitted, and Coles will only do business with
suppliers who adhere to Australian law regarding illegal labour, wages and benefits, working hours, discrimination, discipline procedures and health and safety.

Coles says it expects its suppliers to acknowledge that workers have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively. Suppliers are required to adopt an open attitude toward the activities of trade unions and their organisation activities.

Coles does:

Coles buys 80% of its chicken from Baiada Poultry, a company that has been accused of paying cash in hand workers as little as $10 an hour, allows supervisors to bully, intimidate and sexually harass workers, fails to follow safety procedures set up to protect workers and consumers and tries to force its workers to resign from their union the National Union of Workers.

Two contractors have died at Baiada in the last six years because of unsafe working conditions. One of these men was decapitated. Baiada has been charged for both incidents.

Coles allows a company that uses contractors without food handling training provide the chicken that you eat. The chicken you are buying could be exposed to listeria, campylobacter and salmonella.

Support the campaign!

1) Join the community picket

17-19 Pipe Road, Laverton North (Melways map ref. 40, D10). The factory is a 24/7 site, so community support is needed all the time. Bring a swag/tent, bring your enthusiasm! The union representing the workers, National Union of Workers, has been prevented from supporting the picket after Baiada successfully achieved an injuction against them through the Victorian Supreme Court. That means that the picket is only being sustained by community supporters such as yourself. We need your help!

Contact the Workers Solidarity Network hotline: 0431445978, for any issues with the community picket.

Donate to the strike fund: Workers Solidarity Network is collecting for the striking workers. Please transfer money to: Carboni Social Club, BSB 803226, Account no: 10077.

2) Get involved in the Coles stunts

Members of the community are outraged that Coles is making millions whilst the workers who supply their products are being underpaid, disrespected and risking their lives in unsafe working conditions. We are involved in regular actions to draw attention to Coles role in the exploitation of these workers.

We will be leafletting outside Coles supermarkets, and performing various stunt actions. To get involved, keep up to date with this event page on Facebook or email: occupyworkplaces@gmail.com

3) Help promote the ‘Down down! Coles’ campaign

Print and distribute flyers in your workplace and community:

A4 leaflet – “Coles Says, Coles Does” [Or this version of the above, which is two A5 copies on one A4 sheet]

A4 leaflet ‘I Don’t Feel Like Chicken Tonight” [Or this version of the above, which is two A5 copies on one A4 sheet]

Keep up to date with our events and other campaign materials, and make sure you promote them on Facebook, in your email lists, and sms.