Yarrawonga
Yarrawonga meatworks is owned by the Tasman Group of companies, Joe Catalfamo and the Cabral family. Yarrawonga workers are employed under individual Workplace Agreements (AWAs).  They work behind a high fence with padlocked gates and a security guard to ensure that the Union has no right of entry.  When the Union gives notice that an Organiser is to attend, two security guards are employed.  This is legal under the present Howard/Abbott legislation, and is encouraged by them.  Consequently the Union has very few members at Yarrawonga.  Present Bracks Government legislation should bring back the right of entry to the Union.

Pay Rates
The current rates of pay at Yarrawonga are for 8 hours work, which can be worked at any time between 5am and 12 midnight Monday to Saturday at the discretion of the employer.
Boners  $126.50; 
Slicers/Slaughts  $116.30; 
Labourers  from $87.70 to $106.10
There are no RDOs. 
Sick leave is paid at 5/8 of the above rate.
Any time lost which the employer deems to be the result of "incompetent work" is to be made up by up to 30  minutes of unpaid work per day.
There is no minimum weekly payment. 
The minimum daily payment is 5/8 of the above rate, ie about $79.00 for a boner per day if you are required to work. 
If you are not required there is no pay.

Union Presence Lifts Wages
Some AWA workplaces have wages higher than this.  Such as Catalfamo's other operation at Kyle Road Nth Altona.  They are forced to pay more than Yarrawonga, but still considerably less than under a Union EBA, because unlike Yarrawonga there is at least some Union presence.  Once the employer believes that the Union has been completely shut out from their works, down will go the wages.

Cobram
Down the road from Yarrawonga, at Cobram the meatworks operates under a Company/Union Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA).  This Agreement contains rates of pay and conditions which are similar to those applying at other sheds where the majority of workers are Union members.

Wages
Rates of pay are for 7 hours 20 minutes worked at regular determined times, starting not earlier than 6.45am Monday to Friday.  Boners/Slicers/Slaughts - Beef and Sheep between $194 and $200 per day;  Labourers  between $154 and $160 per day.

Conditions
All the other normal conditions apply eg Rostered Days Off, guaranteed minimum daily and weekly payments, leave provisions, and consultative arrangements and dispute settling procedures which allow for representation by the Union.

Contrast
The contrast between the Union negotiated wages and conditions and the non-Union AWAs or similar arrangements is consistent throughout Victoria. 

However these are only the obvious differences between the Union and non-Union sheds.  There are also other differences, some of which have become apparent in recent days. An atmosphere of intimidation and fear, and racial and religious intolerance is encouraged, or at the very least tolerated, by anti-Union management as a means of dividing the workforce to keep wages and conditions down.

Threats
If Abbott was ever to hold a genuine Royal Commission into the behaviour of employers at non-Union workplaces it would find that many employers break the law on a regular basis by threatening to sack workers who join a Union. For example at a meeting at a non-Union workplace (owned and operated by an employer who actually has another operation that does work to a Union EBA) a worker said that he wanted to join the Union.  The following quotation, taken directly from the minutes of the meeting, is what the Manager at that non-Union place said to that worker:

"Do you think that an employer would pay you over award wage, if he has no control over his business or no say anymore?  Cos that is what is going to happen if the union comes in. 
We're not trying to influence your decision to sign or not, but you think about it. If someone is the only one that signs up with the union and you and everyone else doesn't want the union, then don't you think that you would be pissed off?!
If you were the only one that was to sign, how would you feel with 120 people after you? 
Imagine what would happen if you were drinking at the pub with some of the unhappy people around.
I am not going to say what I would do if someone in my work place signed up with the union and I didn't want them there!"

Clearly the man is being told that if he joins the Union he is likely to be belted up at the pub!

Government Support
This is clearly illegal.  But this and worse happens on a regular basis at non Union workplaces.  The Howard Government through their Industrial Relations Department and Office of the Employment Advocate encourages it.

Violence and Intimidation
At a central Victorian works last year a Muslim sticker was sacked for joining the Union, and another was physically attacked and abused by a kill floor supervisor. Another worker is currently on WorkCover for stress after allegedly being raped by the works Manager.

The owner and operator of the works has supported both the alleged perpetrators. 

At another of this employer's works two weeks ago one worker held a knife to a co-worker's throat.  Management did nothing despite the incident being reported.  Last week the aggressor was in turn hit over the head with an iron bar.  Again management did nothing.  These are not isolated incidents of violence at these works.

Yarrawonga Tragedy
The recent tragedy at Yarrawonga, where one person was killed and two others injured, shows how essential it is that tolerance and respect are promoted in the workplace and that there is a proper procedure for solving problems before they get out of hand.