BROILER chicken farmers can now collectively bargain with processors Inghams, Baiada and Golden Cockerel for the next decade.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a final decision allowing broiler chicken growers, who are members of Queensland Chicken Growers Association, in the absence of a state-based statutory exemption.The ACC said collective bargaining arrangements could lead to transaction cost savings and provide broiler chicken growers with the opportunity to have effective input into the terms and conditions of their contracts with chicken meat processors.
"Queensland chicken growers and processors have previously been able to and can still collectively bargain under an authorisation provided by state legislation,'' a spokesperson said.
"The ability for growers to collectively bargain under this legislation has been in place for approximately 12 years.
"However, in the context of increasing deregulation of agricultural industries, many states have moved away from legislative collective negotiation schemes and processors in those states have sought ACCC authorisation.''
There are approximately 58 chicken-growing farms contracted to three processors in Queensland.
The ACCC has previously authorised similar collective bargaining arrangements for chicken growers in Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
