AMWU members from a potato chip manufacturer in regional South Australia have won back hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid overtime after the union challenged their employer in the SA Industrial Relations Court. 
 
AMWU Regional Secretary Peter Bauer said the out-of-court settlement reached with Safries Pty Ltd at the end of last year was proof the workers had been grossly under paid.
 
“This sends a clear message to Safries and other manufacturers; you cannot disregard award entitlements and procedures.
 
“The AMWU will investigate any claims of underpayment. We will fight to ensure our members aren’t disadvantaged, through the courts in necessary” Mr Bauer said.
 
The settlement provided around 30 permanent full time workers with $1500 each year for up to six years of employment.  Most received the maximum settlement of $9000.
 
It comes as a relief to workers who long queried their pay slips only to be told the correct procedure was being followed.
 
“They were working an eight week roster four days on, four days off with a 12 hour shift. Overtime was being calculated at the end of the eight weeks, instead of at the end of every week.
 
“This resulted in significant underpayment of two hours per week, or $50,” Mr Bauer said.
 
Senior delegate at the time and Safries employee of 20 years Ray Ingley said despite the company’s reluctance to acknowledge their mistake the workers were satisfied with the outcome.
 
“We were elated when we learnt about the settlement. For too long the management kept knocking us back.
 
“We knew something wasn’t right and once we had Peter (Bauer) and the union look over our agreement we could finally take action on it.”
 
Located near Penola in the state’s south-east Safries is a wholly owned subsidiary of McCain, processing potatoes for the foodservice market.
 
“You read stories about people getting underpaid  by their employer in the cities. But you never expect it to happen to you.
 
“You expect to take them on their word….not to be misled.
 
“This is a great outcome, but we will struggle to believe management in the future.”