Grain handlers will begin one hour stoppages at grain sites across the north west of NSW today (Tuesday 29th) as part of protected industrial action, said the Australian Workers' Union which represents the workers.
The action begins after negotiations supervised by the Fair Work Commission with GrainCorp broke down last Friday.
GrainCorp executives refused to cough up an additional 1% wage increase in year 3 of the new agreement. 1% equates to approximately 30 cents per hour to grain handlers that won't kick in for two years.
The workers have seen their pay go backwards in real terms over the last three years.
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, meaning real wages have declined by 7.5%.
In negotiations over the three year deal GrainCorp offered annual increases of 6%, 5%, and 3% plus a $1000 sign on bonus and their grain handlers want 6%, 5%, and 4% plus a $1000 sign on bonus - a difference of 1%.
"We understand that harvest is a very busy time of the year for farmers, getting the grain off as soon as it is ready and safely stored is their number one priority,"said Australian Workers' Union NSW Secretary Tony Callinan.
"It should be GrainCorp's number one priority as well but obviously it isn't.
"They are refusing to come to the table with an extra 1% wage rise in year 3 of the new enterprise agreement.
"We are talking about approximately $0.30 per hour is two years' time, with the Graincorp CEO earning more than $1M per year in salary plus bonuses, an extra 1% to their workforce is definitely affordable, it would be a rounding error on the GrainCorp balance sheet.
"When our members take industrial action trucks will be lined up outside of GrainCorp sites right across western NSW, everyone is already frustrated with how long it takes to get unloaded at GrainCorp but with the workers on strike there will be headers pulling up everywhere when the Chaser Bins, Mother Bins and other on-farm storage is full.
"For years GrainCorp has got away with offering one off payments and bonuses while keeping wages low, while making hundreds of millions of dollars in profit, but the game is up.
"AWU members are prepared to fight for locked-in, guaranteed wage increases that keep up with inflation," said Mr Callinan.
