Strikes at Australian poultry producer Inghams have ended after the company agreed a deal on pay.

After five days of industrial action, Inghams has struck a deal with the United Workers Union (UWU).

Workers at two Inghams factories started action on 22 September after rejecting an offer of a 3.9% raise in year one of a new pay agreement and 3.5% in subsequent years.

The action at the plants in South Australia and Western Australia stopped yesterday (27 September) after a deal was reached on a 5.12% in the first year with back pay and 4% increases in subsequent years.

The union said last week it had been in pay discussions with Inghams – the largest poultry company across Australia and New Zealand – since the start of the year.

As a result of the talks, Inghams has also committed to “better in-housing of labour hire workers, improved breaks and an external audit to investigate the behaviour of senior management in both states”, the UWU said.

The Australian newspaper reported last week that the union was seeking an 18% pay rise – split into three annual 6% increases over a three-year agreement.

Inghams supplies about 40% of Australia’s chicken and sells to companies such as McDonald’s, KFC and Woolworths, according to local outlet 7News.

Inghams supplies the retail market, quick service restaurants (QSR), foodservice distributors and wholesalers. It employs approximately 8200 people.