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Union raids underpaying Vic veggie grower

A union raid of a Victorian vegetable grower allegedly underpaying staff was halted after the company was granted a hearing by the Fair Work Commission.

Tomatoes in a stall in a fruit store
A union got special permission to raid a Victorian vegetable grower allegedly underpaying staff. (AAP)

A union got special permission to raid a Victorian vegetable grower after allegations workers were being exploited.

National Union of Workers officials were granted special leave by the Fair Work Commission to raid A&G Lamattina & Sons' Boneo farm and demand to see all employment records.

But the search was halted when the family-owned business was granted an application for a hearing before the commission in December.

Lamattina Farms grows broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, parsnips, silverbeet, iceberg lettuce and cos lettuce, and supplies Coles and Woolworths supermarkets.

NUW industrial officer Alex Snowball said the union had raised issues at the farm numerous times with the company.

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"We've been visiting the site for a year, meeting with a number of workers there and off-site about their concerns that they were being significantly underpaid," Mr Snowball said on Wednesday.

"In some cases they told us they were being paid as little as $10 an hour and not getting paid super or overtime."

Union officers raided the farm at 9am on Tuesday, but their search for documents was stopped when the company was granted an application to halt the search until a hearing before the commission in December.

A&G Lamattina & Sons declined to answer a number of questions put to them by AAP on Wednesday but issued a brief statement.

"As the matter is currently before the Fair Work Commission, it would not be appropriate for the company to make any further comment at this time," the statement said.

The Victorian Farmers Federation said illegal work practices need to be stamped out in the industry.

"It is vital that all operators, from contractors to farmers, play by the rules and comply with regulations," VFF horticulture vice president Emma Germano said.

"It's giving our industry a bad name and creates an uneven playing field for those doing the right thing,."

Ms Germano urged employees who are unsure of their entitlements to contact Fair Work Australia.


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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