CSL’s new global headquarters and R&D centre opened in the heart of Melbourne’s biomedical precinct last year. Photo: CSL.
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) and the United Workers Union (UWU) will hold a protected action ballot following stalled negotiations with biotechnology company CSL Limited.
CSL Limited, trading as Seqirus, has one of the broadest influenza vaccine portfolios in the world and hosts several manufacturing facilities in Australia. In Adelaide, the Fair Work Commission handed down three decisions granting the unions permission to vote on industrial action over the same proposed enterprise agreement.
The CPSU said: “Despite several further rounds of bargaining discussions, CSL management are still refusing to put forward a fair and reasonable bargaining position.
“Regrettably, CSL management are still pushing for a range of unacceptable cuts to existing conditions and have so far failed to put a pay rise offer on the table.
“Unless CSL management drop some of the cuts and make a reasonable pay offer, all unions will be recommending a NO vote.”
CSL is proposing cuts to more than 40 conditions in its current enterprise agreement with workers. These include no more rostered days off, CSL not having to consider family needs before shift changes, and the introduction of 12-hour shifts, “which directly affects classifications in flu vaccine manufacture”.
The CPSU said unions became “so frustrated with CSL’s negative and tricky approach to bargaining” that they were forced to take the company to the Fair Work Commission.
“The draft agreement shows CSL are still pushing their tricky ‘agreement within an agreement’ for Tullamarine transfers,” the CPSU statement says. “Unions are disappointed with this approach because we strongly believe the current Parkville agreement can meet Tullamarine’s needs without cuts to your rights.”
Last year, CSL announced that its new “world-class” manufacturing hub in Tullamarine would become operational in 2026. Photo: CSL.
CSL’s two current Victorian manufacturing facilities are in Broadmeadows and Parkville, with its new Tullamarine site set to begin operations in 2026.
The unions claim that after several hours in conference with the commission, CSL had to “reluctantly concede that their proposal could impact negatively on workers who transfer to the Tullamarine site, particularly in relation to the crucial issue of consultation”.
The AMWU, the CPSU, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the National Union of Workers (NUW) that merged with United Voice to form the UWU in 2019 underwent a similar dispute with CSL in 2015.
Maintenance, laboratory, research and store workers from the Broadmeadows and Parkville sites held a work stoppage and industrial action after CSL proposed cuts to their conditions and allowances.
Accordingly, the CPSU has again called on impacted members to vote in favour of action when an electronic ballot becomes available in the coming weeks.
While voting is set to close on 9 August, the union said bargaining would continue during the shutdown, with meetings scheduled throughout next month.
