Work stoppages to begin next week

Grain handlers at GrainCorp sites across NSW have voted to stop work as part of protected industrial action, said the Australian Workers’ Union which represents the workers.

The 200+ workers will commence their action with a month of random one hour stoppages at grain handling sites throughout the state beginning next Tuesday November 29.

Grain handlers move and store wheat, canola, barley, oats and other grains.

Freshly harvested grains are trucked from rural properties to bunker silos for storage before being loaded onto trains for transport to the coast and then shipped to market overseas. 

Harvesting of winter crops has already begun in parts of western NSW and will ramp up in coming weeks. 

The Fair Work Commission approved a ‘protected industrial action ballot’ for GrainCorp workers after negotiations with GrainCorp management broke down. 

A majority of AWU members employed by GrainCorp have voted to commence industrial action with the result of the ballot declared on Wednesday.

"If GrainCorp management don’t come to the table with a decent offer AWU members at GrainCorp will be left with no alternative other than to stop work, the protected industrial action could include stoppages of one hour, two hours, three hours, four hours, indefinite stoppages and bans on unloading and loading of trucks and trains" a spokesperson said.

"The workers have seen their pay go backwards in real terms over the last three years."

The AWU says in 2021, 2022 and 2023 grain handlers received an annual increase of only 2% a year, despite inflation rising at a rate of 2.86%, 6.59% and 4.10% respectively. The AWU says this means real wages have declined by 7.5%. 

In 2021 the company made a profit of $139 million, in 2022 of $177 million and $250 million in 2023. 

“Grain handlers have voted in favour of taking industrial action to fight for a fair go,” said Australian Workers’ Union NSW Secretary Tony Callinan.

“This situation has been bubbling away for months and GrainCorp have been avoiding the tough discussions.

“Now it’s harvest time and the window for talk is fast closing, unless GrainCorp come to the party workers will send a strong message by simply stopping work while the trucks are lined down the road waiting to unload. 

“Our members’ have been working hard taking delivery of bumper harvests, delivering big profits, and GrainCorp just kicks them in the guts every time. 

“This year has been another good year in most areas across NSW and with the grain harvest beginning our members are prepared to do the hard yards and long hours to get the grain safely stored but they want a fair wage rise and they are prepared to fight for it. 

“Every extra dollar our members earn is spent in the local communities and country towns they live in, their real wages have gone backwards in the last 3 years and it's time GrainCorp shared some of their huge profits with their workforce and in turn the regional communities that provide the grain they profit from.

“Our members in NSW do the same work as members in Queensland and only want to be paid the same, that’s the heart of this issue,” said Mr Callinan.