{"id":10339,"date":"2020-05-12T06:18:53","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T20:18:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/?p=10339"},"modified":"2025-07-28T15:31:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T05:31:42","slug":"united-workers-union-supports-dairy-levy-for-industry-in-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/archive\/united-workers-union-supports-dairy-levy-for-industry-in-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"United Workers Union supports Dairy Levy for industry in crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

MEDIA RELEASE<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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United Workers Union supports Dairy Levy for industry in crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n

The union representing dairy process workers throughout Australia welcomes the call for a levy on dairy.<\/p>\n

United Workers Union supports the call for a levy on milk at supermarkets to ensure farmers and workers are paid a living\u00a0wage and to enable a sustainable industry.<\/p>\n

The dairy industry is in crisis. In the recent fires 15,000,000 out of the 45,000,000 acres of prime dairy farming land has been burnt out. 5,200 head of cattle were lost in these fires and we are seeing long term multi generation farmers leave the industry in droves.<\/p>\n

We need to act now to protect the dairy industry and ensure that we have secure jobs across the supply chain.<\/p>\n

Dairy farmers have demanded Coles, Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets add up to a 40 cent per litre levy on milk to help them after battling through drought, fires and the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n

Whilst Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is urging supermarkets to voluntarily extend and review the current 10 cents temporary levy on fresh milk to other milk products.<\/p>\n

United Workers Union Food and Beverage National Director Susie Allison said: \u201cWe have consistently called for a fair price on dairy. Asking supermarkets for voluntary levies is not enough; milk must be sold at a fair price at each point in the supply chain.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year we made a submission to the Australian Dairy Plan including the recommendation for a federally controlled functioning price for milk, tied to a minimum consumer price.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have seen over the last few years that leaving the price for milk in the hands of the supermarkets and processors has led to an unstable and often unstainable operating environment for dairy farmers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Federal Government needs to establish an independent body with representatives from farmers, processors and workers to ensure a fair price for milk across the supply chain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaun Davies, dairy process worker and United Workers Union delegate, said: \u201cDairy process workers play an important role in regional communities – we belong to sports and recreational clubs, our children go to the local schools, and we contribute to the economy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI support a levy on dairy. The industry has been through recent droughts, fires and now a pandemic, we need the government to step up and ensure this levy happens.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe levy will ensure that farmers receive the full amount of the increase, which will offset years of rising production costs.<\/p>\n

\u201cProfitable farms are critical for the sustainability of our industry and our regional communities.<\/p>\n

\u201cOften dairy processing jobs will be the best jobs available in a region and many regional communities depend on these jobs. Let\u2019s keep it that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

United Workers Union\u2019s wider recommendation for the Australian dairy industry:<\/p>\n

We must future-proof our dairy industry and secure jobs across the supply chain<\/strong><\/p>\n