By Vanessa Chircop
POULTRY workers at the Baiada factory in Laverton North may be celebrating a victory but for business owner Rob Sergio, industrial action may force him to declare bankruptcy.
The owner of trucking company Sergio Investments said he is the innocent victim of the strike.
His fleet of four trucks, which are contracted by Baiada to deliver chickens from the Laverton North factory, were held hostage when the strike started on 9 November.
Despite taking the matter to the Supreme Court, Rob’s trucks – filled with chicken – remained behind the picket line during the 13 day industrial dispute.
Rob said from the beginning he had sympathised with the workers at Baiada but believes the National Union of Workers (NUW) went overboard in their dealings with him.
“In all fairness, all people that work have rights,” he said.
“But the situation that’s got me upset is that these workers that I’ve known for so many years and know that I’m not part of the Baiada Company… basically turned against me.
“Their attitude was basically bad luck they’re staying there until we get what we want.”
Rob said his livelihood and the livelihood of the truck drivers working for him was never considered by the NUW.
Hoping Baiada and the union would come to an agreement soon, Rob agreed to pay his subcontracted employees for one week during the strike.
But he had to “pull the pin” after that.
“All I wanted was for them to release the trucks,” he said.
Rob said when the strike ended there was no relief, with the worst of his problems becoming reality.
He was finally granted access to his trucks, which had been sitting full of chicken in the factory for 13 days.
“The smell was out of control – you needed to wear a face mask,” he said.
His trucks have now been sterilised, fumigated and given the all clear by Prime Safe – but Rob may still lose his business and believes the NUW should be held to account.
“The union are the union and they’re basically in the same position as a lot of big companies – their pockets never end,” he said.
A spokesperson for the NUW told Star they were unable to comment about the strike.
“We are bound by the terms of settlement with the employer not to make media comment,” he said.
Under the Fair Work Act the union are bound to give clear notice of three business days for a strike.
Baiada were informed about the strike on the Friday before Wednesday 9 November.
