FED: Bakers pay claim spreads to South Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-1999
FED: Bakers pay claim spreads to South Australia

South Australian bakers will walk off the job today over a pay claim, and the dispute
could spread nationally.

Last Friday, Buttercup increased its pay offer for New South Wales bakers from six
to eight per cent, after 1,000 bakers went on strike.

Bakers called a 48-hour strike in NSW, sparking fears of a bread shortage across the
state, but voted to go back to work after 24 hours when Buttercup made the new offer.

But Miscellaneous Workers' Union officer AARON MAGNER says Buttercup withdrew its pay
offer in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission yesterday.

Mr MAGNER says Buttercup told the commission that union members in South Australia
have heard about the revised pay offer for NSW bakers and want the same increase.

But he says instead, the company revised the eight per cent offer down to 4.4 per cent
for all members.

Mr MAGNER says South Australian bakers are planning industrial action today over the
dispute, and NSW union organisers are meeting today to consider further industrial action.

AAP RTV nd/sal/kbw/jn/rp/pjg

KEYWORD: BREAD (SYDNEY)

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