Money can’t buy everything. Well, maybe not according to beverage giant Schweppes.
The Japanese owned and operated drink manufacturer is offering workers at its Tullamarine plant thousand of dollars as an incentive to get them on the other side of the picket line.
The drink manufacturer has sent letters to workers locked out over a roster dispute offering $5000 in bonus for the first 10 to who are willing to sign and a bonus of $1000 offered to other workers who also sign, the Herald Sun reported.
The dispute is over a proposed a new 12-hour, three-day week roster that could see workers loose entitlements, including up to three days of overtime a fortnight and paid at double time, the report states. Additionally, the new roster can be imposed with short notice during busy summer period.
The offer is considered to be a tactical move by Schweppes to get its workers, most of whom have mortgages to pay and family to support, on side. However, the Herald Sun reports that workers are holding ground.
"You’re between a rock and a hard place," one worker told the paper. "You’ve got to go back to work with these people, they’re your mates, but it doesn’t stop the bills coming in. I have a mortgage to pay."
About 140 Tullamarine workers have been locked out since December 15 (six weeks) without pay. No one has reportedly signed up for the $5000 bonus payment.
The Tullamarine factory is currently being operated by management and casual staff. The matter will be considered for arbitration should negotiation stand-offs continue.
The company is also looking at dropping figures for its soda and mixer products. Disruptions in the supply of carbon dioxide – the gas that puts the pop in soda – to the Australian Market has been cited as reasons for decline in Schweppes products on supermarket shelves.
Schweppes products were in short supply across supermarkets across Victoria, NSW and Queensland over the Christmas period. It was reported to have dropped by up to 90 per cent over the period.
Schweppes is owned and operated by Japanese beer company Asahi.
Image: Schweppes