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Grain workers to vote on pay deal

Western Plains App

River McCrossen

16 November 2024, 1:40 AM

Grain workers to vote on pay dealUnion members at set to vote on Monday. IMAGE: GrainCorp

Grain handlers will vote on a proposed pay deal with GrainCorp on Monday 18 November for a 14 per cent pay rise over three years.

 

Australia Workers' Union (AWU) members will be asked whether to accept a rise back paid to 1 July 2024, plus a $1250 sign-on bonus.

 

 Voting will run for 24 hours from 6am and the results will be known on 19 October.



“Last Friday, I met with AWU delegates and they endorsed a new agreement to go to a vote, now it’s up to members to vote it up or reject it,” AWU NSW Secretary Tony Callinan said.

 

“This is a huge win for our members at GrainCorp considering the low wage increases they’ve suffered through in recent times."

 

GrainCorp declined to comment on the vote.

 

The Coonamble GrainCorp receival site in action during harvest this year. IMAGE: GrainCorp


Under the deal, workers would receive an extra six per cent boost in the first year, back paid from the start of July 2024.

 

They would receive another six per cent rise over the next 12 period, followed by a two per cent rise in 2025-26.

 

The vote, announced Tuesday 12 November, comes after industrial action began at Grain Corps sites on 29 October, including in Parkes and Narrabri.

 

The union says worker pay has not kept up with inflation.


 

If members vote against the deal, potential future actions could disrupt the harvest schedule as the season enters its final weeks.

 

However, Trangie grain truck driver Matt Ferrari said he is not concerned about his local GrainCorp receival site.

 

"We haven't had any dramas in Trangie with that," he said. "I think we should be pretty right."

 

He said the site wasn't affected by the strikes last month.