Grain handlers go on strike at Australian exporter GrainCorp
29/10/2024 07:14
By Peter Hobson
CANBERRA, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Some grain handlers at
GrainCorp GNC.AX , one of Australia's largest exporters of
wheat and other crops, began industrial action on Tuesday,
threatening to disrupt the harvest just as it ramps up.
Australia is one of the world's biggest shippers of
agricultural products. Harvesting of wheat, barley and canola is
entering full swing and will continue into January.
The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) said GrainCorp handlers
in New South Wales - one of the country's biggest growing
regions - would conduct impromptu hour-long strikes over the
next 30 days with as little as 10 minutes warning.
"We'll be taking action at peak work periods, if a train
comes in, if trucks line up," said AWU official Tony Callinan.
GrainCorp has the largest grain storage and distribution
network on Australia's east coast and in some areas farmers have
no nearby alternative grain handler.
Callinan said around 200 workers were taking part in the
stoppages.
GrainCorp said fewer than 100 had voted in the strike ballot
and it had more than 1,000 grain handlers in New South Wales
including casual staff.
"Our teams are monitoring the situation and working to
ensure harvest activity can continue at our sites," Jess Simons,
the company's head of corporate affairs, said.
Callinan said recent pay rises were far below the rate of
inflation during a period of healthy company profits and the
union wants a three-year deal boosting pay by 6% in the first
year, 5% in the second and 4% in the third.
GrainCorp said it had offered 6% in the first year, 5% in
the second and 3% in the third.
The strikes do not yet threaten grain supply but are a
headache for farmers.
"Growers are working within an extremely tight time frame
and they need all hands on deck," said Justin Everitt, a grower
and board member at industry group NSW Farmers.
"Strikes at receival sites will certainly come at a cost to
farmers," he said.
"There will be large, random delays to when they can deliver
and unload grain, which will only increase freight costs and add
to the stress and fatigue of harvest."
(Reporting by Peter Hobson; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
((peter.hobson@thomsonreuters.com;))