Arnott's workers strike over hourly pay rises worth less than a packet of biscuits

In Adelaide, approximately 160 Arnott's workers are on strike for 24 hours as part of a pay dispute, according to the United Workers Union. The dispute stems from years of wage increases that have fallen short of inflation. The company has offered a 9.5% pay rise over two years, but most employees have rejected this proposal. The workers, who produce popular Australian snacks like Tim Tams and Iced VoVos, claim the pay rise equates to less than $1 per hour, insufficient to purchase a packet of biscuits.

The United Workers Union spokesperson, Adam Auld, explains that workers have been struggling to make ends meet, with four years of 2.5% wage increases not keeping up with rising living costs. Arnott's, owned by KKR, has proposed a 9.5% wage increase over two years, but the union reports "95 per cent of the workforce voted no" to this offer.

The company has committed to continuing negotiations with the union to reach a final decision on wages, expressing disappointment with the workers' decision to strike. Arnott's history dates back to 1848 when William Arnott arrived from Scotland, setting up his first bakery in Maitland, New South Wales, and later expanding to a factory in Newcastle.

The company became a national brand with the development of the Milk Arrowroot biscuit in 1882. In 2014, Arnott's made 120 job cuts at the Marleston factory, relocating those positions to sites in Sydney and Brisbane.