Grain handlers will begin one hour stoppages at grain sites across the north west of NSW today (Tuesday 29 October) as part of protected industrial action, said the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) which represents the workers.

The action begins after negotiations supervised by the Fair Work Commission with GrainCorp broke down last Friday.

The AWU said GrainCorp executives refused an additional 1% wage increase in year three of the new agreement. 1% equates to approximately 30 cents per hour to grain handlers that won’t kick in for two years. 

The union said workers have seen their pay go backwards 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%,” said the AWU.

“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,” Union Secretary Tony Callinan said.

“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 three of the new enterprise agreement,” he said.

“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.

The Western Plains App approached GrainCorp for comment today but they declined, stating that the matter was being dealt with internally.