We have been acutely aware of the difficulties of the meat industry in obtaining and keeping skilled persons within the industry for some time.  Apprentices are getting harder and harder to get and we are having difficulty attracting good skilled personnel into the processing sector.

Early last year the Union met with representatives of the peak meat industry employers Union, the National Meat Association of Australia (now Australian Meat Industry Council) to look initially at the shortage of apprentices and what could be done about it.  At this meeting it was recognised that the problem warranted industry intervention before we come to a skills crisis, a point not too far away.

We then presented a joint approach to Food Training SA to discuss the problem further.  At this meeting it was agreed that not only was the lack of trade butchers coming into the workforce a problem, but various other food trades were in the same position along with a skills shortage in the processing sector.

What then are the problems?

We identified several major factors affecting the ability to attract workers; the trend towards information technology in schools for the last ten years or so has impacted on perceived career opportunities for school leavers, the lack of career information to school children about food trades, the lack of opportunity to progress past basic trades and the notion that butchery is a dead end job, the perception that the meat industry is a 'lower end'  job or dirty work, the real lack of recognition of skills for workers in the industry other than butchers (employers are refusing to recognise certificate 3), low pay and lack of opportunity for financial reward, the length of apprenticeships and the pay rates attached to it, poor people management in some key areas leading to high turnover of labour, and the lack of ability to change career stream.

What can be done?

It was agreed that industry needs to address these problems and rectify the situation.  The ultimate plan is to prepare information and promote careers in the meat industry in our schools.  In order to do this we must overhaul our apprenticeship system and career streams, building better opportunities for advancement for workers in all sectors of the industry from retail through to abattoirs.

The Union holds a position on the Meat Industry Development Board.  Using our influence here, the rest of the board soon agreed that this problem needed to be put onto the boards list of key industry initiatives.  The board has agreed to commence professional analysis as to what the priorities should be for this project and this will set things into real motion.

Industry in general is now getting involved (as it needs to) and the outlook for real reforms is excellent.  We will keep our members informed as to progress but at this stage it is important to say that this is the best opportunity that workers in the meat industry have had for many years to do something about careers and advancement within the industry, whether you be a tradesperson or not.

For more information contact the AMIEU on 08 8357 1411