In 2019, women workers at Jindi Cheese led their first strike against dairy giant Lactalis, standing strong against police intimidation to fight poverty wages and build worker power through solidarity.
The first strike of our new union took place in November 2019 only days after the United Workers Union was officially created! The predominantly female United Workers Union members at Jindi Cheese in Gippsland launched their first-ever strike against dairy giant Lactalis. These workers were paid as little as 20.68 per hour – just 1.19 above minimum wage – took on one of the world’s largest dairy companies owned by France’s fifth-richest family. Despite aggressive police intimidation, including the deployment of riot police against a peaceful picket of 16 women workers, the strikers maintained their picket line and successfully disrupted operations by turning away truck deliveries. Their indefinite strike action pushed Lactalis to improve casual workers’ conditions and highlighted the gross inequality of a billionaire-owned company paying poverty wages to its essential workforce.
“Everyone out here has had conversations that we wouldn’t normally have… It’s brought everyone closer together. I think we all have a lot more respect for each other. It’s empowering.” – Tammy Norrie, Jindi Cheese Worker and United Workers Union Delegate