Portland is home to a GrainCorp terminal which incorporates the silo complex at left. Photo: Port of Portland

ABOUT 100 GrainCorp employees and United Workers Union members at the company’s Portland and Geelong facilities walked off the job for 24 hours on Tuesday amid stalled enterprise agreement negotiations.

The union said the strike was prompted by the company’s refusal to agree to a workable rostering system, to include safety-equipment provisions, and to deliver a pay rise to close the gap between GrainCorp sites.

GrainCorp said the disagreement centred on pay, with the company and the union remaining some distance apart in negotiations.

UWU food and beverage lead organiser Tom Czech said the workers are aiming to raise the alarm about what they describe as a pattern of disrespect and underhanded tactics engaged in by management during the EBA negotiations.

“What we have seen here is an ASX-listed company refusing to provide our members with the basic workplace right of an effective roster,” Mr Czech said.

“It’s pretty appalling that in 2025 our members are having to ask for such a basic workplace right as knowing when they need to be at work.

“Doctors, nurses, bus drivers, hospitality workers all get a roster.

“But a $1.67billion dollar company doesn’t have the HR resources or skills to provide a workable rostering system for our members, so they too can plan their lives.”

A spokesperson for GrainCorp said the company was “disappointed the union has chosen to take strike action”, given GrainCorp had been “negotiating in good faith”.

“This dispute is largely about pay and the parties remain far apart on this, and bridging that gap requires constructive negotiations at the table,” the spokesperson said.

“Our priority remains a fair outcome that recognises our people and supports the long-term sustainability of the business and jobs, while keeping our sites running safely and efficiently.”

The spokesperson refuted the claims that GrainCorp was refusing to provide a workable roster.

United Workers Union’s voted to take a 24hr work stoppage at two GrainCorp sites. Photo: UWU

“There is a rostering system in place and there always has been.

“We have proposed some changes to the enterprise agreement that are intended to reflect how the sites and teams actually operate today, and to bring them in line with best practice at GrainCorp.”

High duties pay dispute

Mr Czech said workers were already wary of negotiating with the company after revelations that some Geelong employees had been underpaid tens of thousands of dollars through a failure to pay higher-duties penalties for up to six years.

He said following this, the UWU flagged several other non-compliance issues and failure to adhere to the current agreement with management.

He said these issues have not been addressed.

“Our members rightfully don’t trust their employer in this negotiation, and why would they?

“Many of them were underpaid for years, and instead of doing the right thing, paying workers properly and adhering to the employment rules laid out in the agreement, GraincCorp in these negotiations are seeking to gut the agreement and give themselves a get-out-of-jail-free card whilst trampling on workers hard-fought-for rights.”

Mr Czech said GrainCorp had also refused the union’s request to be part of the company’s working group examining the higher-grades duties underpayment.

The GrainCorp spokesperson said the company was working with employees to resolve the underpayment issue and to ensure compliance.

“On higher duties, we identified earlier this year that some employees hadn’t been correctly paid under past arrangements, and we immediately investigated and have begun remediation.

“We are working directly with employees, including a union delegate, and an external compliance provider, to resolve it fairly and transparently.”

On September 24, the UWU applied to the Fair Work Commission to hold a ballot of members on whether to back an unlimited number of work stoppages, including those lasting up to 24 hours or indefinitely, along with ongoing overtime bans.

UWU represents workers across more than 45 industries including logistics and supply chain, manufacturing, property services, health and support, education and hospitality.

Source: United Workers Union, GrainCorp