Pay Negotiations Continue Between Wilmar And Workers

Employees of Wilmar Sugar Australia have rejected a proposed pay increase as negotiations, which have been occurring since March, continue.

The sugar giant, which is a subsidiary of the Singapore-based company Wilmar International and operates four sugar mills in the Burdekin, put their latest offer out to a ballot of employees earlier in November, with 80.5 per cent of respondents voting against the company’s offer.

Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) Northern District Secretary Jim Wilson said that Wilmar’s offer isn’t sweet enough.

“While sugar prices surge and remain at a high we haven’t seen in decades, Wilmar continue to pay their workers at some of the worst rates in the industry,” Mr Wilson said.

“This is a foreign-owned, multinational corporation making record profits off the back of local communities in this region – it’s time they gave something back.”

Wilmar most recently offered pay rises of 5 per cent in the first year, 3.75 per cent in the second year and 3 per cent in the third year.

AWU said factoring inflation, this increase will take workers backwards and are calling for pay rises of 12 per cent, 8 per cent and 5 per cent.

Leading up to the ballot, Mr Wilson accused Wilmar of acting aggressively to stop workers from voting against the deal.

“We are seeing every grubby tactic under the sun from Wilmar to try to stop their workers from learning about and voting against this terrible offer,” he said.

“We have seen union information removed from crib rooms and notice boards, managers making threats to workers who tell other workers to vote no - they are even denying workers in control rooms from accessing union officials during their lunch breaks.

“Wilmar are even threatening to pull their commitment to converting a number of seasonal employees to permanency, something they clearly have had no intention of ever doing.”

“Our members see this for what it is – bullying tactics from a desperate employer who has lost control of this situation.”

A Wilmar Sugar Australia spokesperson denied these allegations.

“We have not received complaints from any employee of bullying or intimidation related to the EA (employment agreement) negotiation process,” they said.

The spokesperson said negotiations will continue “in good faith”.

“Our EA proposal offered pay increases of 11.75 per cent over three years, back pay for permanent and seasonal workers, and permanency for 71 seasonal employees,” they said.

“Our seasonal employees are covered by the same EA as our permanent employees, and are remunerated accordingly.

“Given our offer was rejected, we will continue to negotiate in good faith, honestly and openly.

“We have responded to a request from unions to meet with them, and are now waiting for all union bargaining agents to respond.”

Wilmar workers are represented by AWU, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU).

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Wilmar’s Invicta Mill, Giru. Photo supplied