Chicken supplies at supermarkets and fast-food chains face a “significant” shortage as workers walk off the job amid pay disputes.
Over 1,000 Ingham have commenced a 24-hour strike demanding an 18 per cent pay rise over three years.
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The pay rise would equate to about $1.50 per hour, a request to keep up with rising cost-of-living.
Ingham employees from South Australia and Western Australia are taking part in the strike, which started at 12.01am on Friday morning.
United Workers Union, the representative of the workers, said further action could be taken if negotiations aren’t made.
“Like everyone else in Australia at the moment, they’re [Ingham employees] doing it tough when they walk up and down the supermarket aisles, Tim Kennedy from the United Workers Union said.
“We need cost-of-living wage increases.”
An Inghams representative said the company had been working on settling a new enterprise agreement.
“It is disappointing that it has become necessary to lodge an application with the Fair Work Commission,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“We are working closely with our customers and do not anticipate any interruption to supply during this time.”
Fast-food chains McDonalds and KFC and Woolworths and Aldi are expected to be impacted by the strike.