Truck drivers in Queensland are preparing to take industrial action by wearing bright pink and only responding to bosses with “Nanu Nanu” after their company, Anthony Pratt’s Visy, refused to offer a real pay increase.
On Thursday, workers at Visy’s glass recycling facility in Queensland rejected the company’s offer of a 2% pay rise after demanding a 3% rise to keep up with growing inflation.
It comes after the Reserve Bank of Australia warned this week that real wages could shrink as much as 3% in 2022 as inflation goes through the roof.
Jared Abbott, the director of organising for the Transport Workers Union Queensland, said drivers and warehouse staff had voted for a fun action that shows they also mean business.
Although a traditional 24-hour strike is still on the cards, workers will start by wearing hi-vis pink clothing and only respond with “Nanu Nanu” to communicate with their bosses.
“Nanu Nanu” is a reference from the 70s television show Mork and Mindy. In the show, Robin Williams plays the alien Mork, who would greet people with “Nanu Nanu” instead of hello. At the height of the show, the phrase was turned into a popular saying.
The response will be used for all in-person and over radio communication.
“It’s really just a fun way for us to have a strike,” Abbott said.
“I’m not entirely sure what was the catalyst [for choosing “Nanu Nanu”], but the group thought it was a good idea, and that’s the way democracies work.”
While the union is taking a more creative approach to the action, he said they meant business.
“They want the company to know they are serious and we’re willing to give them an opportunity to do the right thing. Otherwise, we’ll have to escalate.”
The union has already rejected the 1.5% rise offered and made the application to the Fair Work Commission to take industrial action this week.
Abbott said the company had made a profit during the pandemic, so it was only fair workers got a real wage rise. “They’ve failed to put forward any reasonable increase for these guys.”
“They’re offering 2% while the inflation rate is at 5% and in Brisbane, it’s 6%. They’re making good money,” he said.
Visy was contacted by Guardian Australia but did not respond.
