
GrainCorp sites across NSW, including this one at Moree, could be impacted by the proposed industrial action. Photo: GrainCorp
GRAINCORP has reportedly withdrawn its latest offer to its New South Wales workforce as part of ongoing enterprise-bargaining negotiations following a mandatory conciliation meeting between the company, the Fair Work Commission, and the Australian Workers Union on Friday.
This comes days before a ballot to decide what, if any, industrial action will be taken by AWU members is declared on Wednesday afternoon.
In a memo sent to staff on Friday, GrainCorp said the company tabled its “final offer” ahead of the meeting.
This offered included: a wage increase of 14 percent over three years, with 6pc in the first year followed by 5pc and 3pc; backpay to July 1; sign-on bonuses of $750 for permanent and fixed-term employees and some casuals; and the withdrawal of GrainCorp’s travel-provisions claim.
GrainCorp said this was “a final offer” that it had “tabled with the proviso that AWU endorsement be confirmed at the conciliation” on Friday.
“The AWU rejected this final offer and as such the offer is now withdrawn,” the memo said.
AWU NSW secretary Tony Callinan said the delegates were caught off-guard by the response.
“We were very, very close to a deal; we were apart on one or two very small things,” Mr Callinan said.
“We’re apart by a few cents an hour; we’re hardly talking sheep stations.
“Effectively, we are not sure currently where we are at; they haven’t talked to us.”
Mr Callinan said the AWU had been optimistic that a deal could have been reached between the two parties.
“We left the Fair Work Commission on Friday thinking we were close to a deal and then without talking to us, our organisers, they just sent a letter to their employees saying all deals were off.
“I’m not sure what game they are playing, but if they think our members are bluffing, they are about to find out that they are not.”
Mr Callinan said before the meeting, he had also reached out to GrainCorp’s senior management “to see if there was any potential middle ground” and was yet to hear back from them.
“They think that they are the corporate with extreme power…and can do anything and don’t need to meet community expectations.”
GrainCorp head of corporate affairs Jess Simons refuted the claims that the AWU was not aware that Friday’s offer was its last.
“During the Fair Work Commission process last Friday, GrainCorp made a generous offer in the hope of bringing our negotiations with the AWU to an end,” Ms Simons said in a statement.
“This was made in response to the AWU making a ‘final’ offer.
“At the time, it was made clear the offer would be withdrawn if the AWU refused to endorse GrainCorp’s offer by the conclusion of the FWC process that day.
“As the AWU refused to endorse the offer, it was automatically withdrawn.
“It seems that the outcome of Friday’s process before the FWC may not have been properly communicated to Mr Callinan by the AWU representatives who participated in the process.”
Industrial action prospects
AWU delegates are meeting tomorrow to discuss potential industrial actions.
A ballot to finalise if industrial action will be taken and what type will be declared on Wednesday afternoon.
Any potential action would vary site to site, and could feature work stoppages ranging from minutes to an indefinite halt to operations.
“When the ballot is declared on Wednesday, GrainCorp will probably be getting a notice from us of when our industrial action will start.”
The proposed action would hit GrainCorp as harvest commences across NSW.
Mr Callinan said the AWU has a few hundred members who are GrainCorp NSW employees with people located at all the company’s sites.
“Headers would be turning in the state’s north-west if it wasn’t for the wet ground.
“As soon as the ground is right, they will be stripping grain.
“With the weather forecast, farmers can’t afford any delays.
“If I was a farmer in the area, I would be getting on to GrainCorp and telling them to find an extra one or two percent and get a deal with your workforce and keep the receival terminals open.”
GrainCorp and the AWU are scheduled to have a further conciliation meeting this Friday.
Ms Simons said GrainCorp was optimistic that a deal could be finalised.
“GrainCorp will continue negotiations with the AWU when we meet at the second conciliation conference this week, and we are hopeful of reaching agreement.”
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