AMWU members at seven sugar mills in northern Queensland have taken protection industrial action after the sugar arm of CSR, Sucrogen, failed to make them a fair pay offer.
Protracted negotiations over the proposed union collective agreement began on 17 July 2009, and the workers have since rejected two insufficient wage offers from the company.
On 31st May 2010, workers at the Sucrogen sugar mills at Victoria, Macknade, Invicta, Pioneer, Kalamia, Inkerman, and Plane Creek all took protected industrial action.
The cane rollers at all seven mills were stopped as the members conducted a 24 hour stop work, over time bans and callout bans.
The seven mills amount to around 45 per cent of Australia’s sugar industry.
Sucrogen has since threatened to lock out any workers who take further protected industrial action.
AMWU Qld Assistant Secretary, Rohan Webb, said Sucrogen must recognise the workers’ right to take protected industrial action under the Fair Work Act of 2009.
“The sugar milling companies should be reminded that the laws have changed and workers have a right to fair and decent outcomes.”
Wages in the sugar industry have remained low for years due to poor cane prices, but the last two seasons have seen record sugar prices and good cane yields.
AMWU Organiser Rick Finch believes it’s only fair that the workers see some of this profit.
“The sticking points in negotiations are over pay and working conditions. We have been trying to negotiate a union collective agreement for the past nine months with no success to date. The company has a 2 per cent roll-over offer on the table or a 3.75 per cent offer with trade offs on conditions.”
Rohan Webb said Sucrogen’s tactics have made the workers disillusioned with the negotiation process.
“We have seen increased and aggressive activity from the sugars mills towards the workers’ terms and conditions over the last 12 months. It has been our experience that the companies have embarked on an approach of confrontation in agreement negotiations.”
AMWU members in the remaining sugar mills in northern Queensland are monitoring the negotiations as the outcome will set a standard across the industry.
Mr Webb said they have vowed to support the workers at Sucrogen to ensure a decent outcome for all sugar workers.
“It has been a credit to all AMWU delegates and members that they have ensured that their workplaces are organised and ready to repel any attacks from the employers. They have also strengthened the alliances and communications amongst all sugar mills workers across the State.”
The AMWU has produced 5000 stickers on campaign for fair pay for sugar workers.
To get a sticker and show your support for the campaign, contact the AMWU Qld branch office.