Wilmar Sugar strikes: Electrical Trades Union accuses company of ‘bad faith’

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto has broken his silence on the ongoing pay stand-off between Wilmar and its employees, launching a blistering attack on the sugar company.

Member for Hinchinbrook and Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Deputy Leader, Nick Dametto, has launched a scathing attack on Wilmar in the wake of what he says in the multinational company’s decision to prevent workers from voting on the recommendations handed down by the Fair Work Commissioner. Picture: Supplied

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto has broken his silence on the ongoing pay stand-off between Wilmar and its employees, launching a blistering attack on the sugar company.

The Katter’s Australian Party deputy leader attacked Wilmar’s “arrogance” to prevent workers from voting on the recommendations from the Fair Work Commissioner.

Mr Dametto said the pay dispute between Wilmar and mill workers had “dragged out long enough to the detriment of all sugar industry stakeholders”.

“Sugar-cane growers, workers and the entire industry have had enough,” he said on Wednesday afternoon.

“It was Wilmar who opted to get the Fair Work Commissioner involved with resolving this disagreement, and now that they don’t like the outcome, they are digging in their heels and refusing to consider the recommendations.”

Wilmar Sugar Australia’s Macknade Mill, Herbert River district, Hinchinbrook. The mill, pictured in this file photo, is expected to fire up again on Friday after a spell of wet weather. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Dametto had previously taken a measured response to the fraught negotiations between Wilmar and three unions representing about 2000 workers but took off his gloves on Wednesday afternoon.

“The independent Commission carefully considered the situation and came back with their recommendations, which are not made lightly,” he said.

“But rather than putting these to a vote, as Tully Sugar Mill did — despite no one being entirely happy — Wilmar has opted to not even give the workers the chance to vote.”

He said Tully Sugar had the decency to put the Commission’s recommendations to a vote, resulting in its workers being paid more fairly.

“Just 150 kilometres away, Wilmar’s workers are stuck under a regime that pays them significantly less for the same work: It’s shameful,” he said.

“If Wilmar as a corporation had any interest in the well-being of this district — and frankly, I don’t believe they do — they would have already put these recommendations to a vote.

“Wilmar is profit-driven, plain and simple.”

Unionised employees from Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ Victoria and Macknade mills in Herbert River on strike in Ingham. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Dametto said for Wilmar to restore its reputation, it needed to “act now” and put the recommendations to a vote.

“Anything less is a slap in the face to the hard-working people who keep the sugar industry going.”

He said it was time to let the employees get back to work earning a fair wage.

“We need to create some stability for the rest of the season, giving growers and harvesting contractors the confidence they need for the second half of the season.”

EARLIER

Wilmar rejects ‘bad faith’ claims amid sugar strikes

With the sugarcane harvest stalled in parts of North Queensland due to wet weather, the war between Wilmar and three workers’ unions continues to rage.

Electrical Trades Union Queensland entered the fray on Wednesday, calling Wilmar Sugar and Renewables a “bad faith actor” for failing to accept the recommendations of the Fair Work Commission.

ETU state organiser Liam Sharkey said Wilmar had shown “total disregard for its workers, sugar communities, growers, and now the Fair Work Commission.”

Mr Sharkey’s comments follow allegations that Australia’s largest sugar manufacturer had rejected accepting the full recommendation of Commissioner Assisted Bargaining in the Fair Work Commission.

Mr Sharkey said Wilmar could have ended the damaging dispute, which showed the “arrogance of a multinational overseas company”.

“It just shows how little regard Wilmar has for its workers, communities, growers and now Australia’s institutions,” he said.

“Its reputation is in tatters, and it has now become a ‘bad faith actor’ in these negotiations.”

The Australian Workers Union has previously said that the commission recommended a 21.3 per cent pay rise over four years, which includes an 8 per cent pay rise and another 4 per cent on December 1 this year.

A black-necked stork traipses through a freshly cut Hinchinbrook canefield with Macknade Mill in the background. The mill was not operating on Tuesday following heavy rain inhibited the sugarcane harvest. Picture: Cameron Bates

The AWU confirmed on Wednesday, however, that the three unions were also yet to accept the recommendations of the commission.

AWU Northern District Secretary Jim Wilson said the latest update to the acrimonious negotiations was being circulated among its members.

He confirmed the main sticking point was likely to be the commission’s lack of provision for back pay, with the current EBA having expired in December 2023 and the last pay increase in December 2022.

Mr Wilson said the union was also gauging the appetite of its workers for an hour stoppage planned for Thursday given the impact of the weather on the sugarcane crush.

Wilmar employs about 3000 people across its eight raw sugar mills, most of which are in North Queensland.

About 2000 of the workers are union members.

A company spokeswoman said cane harvesting in the Herbert River district (Hinchinbrook) was expected to resume on Friday, with the mills expected to kick in to gear several hours afterwards.

She said harvesting in Proserpine was expected to recommence on Friday or Saturday, with the Burdekin expected to begin mid to late next week.

Cane cutting had resumed in Plane Creek (Sarina), and crushing at the mills was expected to start on Wednesday afternoon.

Originally published as Wilmar Sugar strikes: Electrical Trades Union accuses company of ‘bad faith’