United Workers Union members at GrainCorp sites at Geelong and Portland are taking 48-hour strike action at the Victorian ports – causing significant disruptions to port activities and a warning of future disruptions to grain harvest shipping if the current dispute is not resolved.
The protracted negotiations have been stonewalled by GrainCorp (ASX: GNC) refusing to negotiate a fair pay rise and a workable rostering system.
GrainCorp, one of the country’s largest agribusiness and processing companies, has a market value of $1.8 billion, and reported grain retrievals in Victoria last year of 4.1 million tonnes.
Thursday and Friday’s actions are likely to disrupt planned shipments of woodchips from the port, impacting two vessels.
The disruptions are also a warning that farmers across Australia could be left ‘holding the bushel’ if further industrial action impacts 2025 harvest shipments – due to be shipped through the port in coming weeks.
This is the second time in less than a month that workers across the two sites have walked off the job. To date the company has refused to resolve the significant pay discrepancies between GrainCorp sites, instead offering a below-inflation pay offer.
The fight for a workable rostering system at GrainCorp remains a live issue, with GrainCorp frequently notifying workers as late as Friday afternoon about their upcoming shifts for the next week.
The United Workers Union has applied to the Fair Work Commission to assist with bargaining, over the company’s refusal to negotiate key claims such as pay and rostering.
Quotes attributable to Tom Czech, Lead Organiser, Food and Beverage, United Workers Union:
“GrainCorp’s greed and refusal to work constructively with their workers, is sadly having a real impact on port activities, and will potentially impact the lives of farmers and regional communities. Our members have been forced to take drastic measures, because this $1.8 billion company is hellbent on blocking any attempts by our members to get ahead and provide for their families.
“Our members are an integral part of port operations, and we will see that over the next two days when ships aren’t loaded and the port is idle. Our members are also vital to distributing the year’s harvest – without them, there is no quality check on grain, no processing, or loading of the grain for distribution to international and domestic markets. Our members’ work is the backbone of the company, not the faceless men in suits, penny pinching over our members’ pay claim.
“Imagine finding out every Friday afternoon, what your shifts are for the next week. That is what our members are facing, they have no ability to plan their lives, or to support their families.”
“At every turn this profit hungry company is just looking for ways to cut costs, including a below-inflation pay offer. That’s why our members are standing up, and we hope that – if the time comes – farmers will stand with us and send GrainCorp a message too.”