Wilmar Sugar offers new EA proposal to workers to vote on

Wilmar Sugar has announced new delays to the sugar crush but says it is offering a “fresh” work deal directly to employees to vote on.

Wilmar Sugar Australia’s Victoria Mill near Ingham, Hinchinbrook Shire, during the 2023 sugar-cane crush. Picture: Cameron Bates

Wilmar Sugar has announced new delays to the start of the sugar-cane harvest but says it is offering a “fresh” work deal directly to employees to vote on.

“Wilmar Sugar and Renewables informed the Fair Work Commission today (Tuesday) that it would put a fresh proposal directly to employees covered by the enterprise agreement in a ballot planned for June 10,” a spokeswoman said.

“The Commission scheduled a report back on the outcome of the ballot and any other developments on 21 June.”

The spokeswoman said union representatives would not agree to a request to suspend planned industrial action while the ballot was being conducted and employees were considering the new offer.

She said Wilmar had outlined a new employment agreement (EA) package that included a $1500 sign-on bonus (inclusive of superannuation), permanent jobs offers to 50 fixed-term and seasonal employees, and a $20 a week allowance for employees using an electrical licence.

A Wilmar Sugar Australia cane train towing empty cane bins from Victoria Mill through Ingham during the 2022 crush. Picture: Cameron Bates

“Industrial action has already impacted our 2024 sugar production season, with work stoppages over the past two weeks forcing us to further delay the start of production at a number of our factories,” she said.

“We are in the process of notifying growers of the new dates, which represent total delays ranging from two to nine days.”

The revised start dates as notified on May 28, 2024, are:

• Macknade Mill, 19 June 19 (eight day delay)

• Victoria Mill, June 20 (two day delay)

• Invicta Mill, June 11 (Seven day delay)

• Pioneer Mill, June 10 (Six day delay)

• Kalamia Mill, June 10 Six day delay)

• Inkerman Mill, June 6 (two day delay)

• Proserpine Mill, June 20 (nine day delay)

• Plane Creek Mill, June 20 (nine day delay)

The Wilmar spokeswoman said the start dates “may push back even further if planned industrial action proceeds”.

“We were notified this week of a raft of new work bans and stoppages planned at our sites through to, and including, June 3.”

She said Wilmar had written to employees confirming they would not be paid for period when they were on strike, “or where partial work bans mean they do not perform their full work duties”.

“We are grateful to employees who continue to work on completion of essential works ahead of the start of production.”

The Herbert River sugar-cane harvest at Toobanna south of Ingham, Hinchinbrook Shire. Please attribute. Picture: Cameron Bates

Australian Workers Union Northern District Secretary Jim Wilson said on Tuesday that its latest “generous concession” to Wilmar had been rejected.

He said the workers had reduced their wage claim to an 18 per cent pay rise over 3 years – a 7 per cent reduction from its original 25 per cent increase.

“Once again, Wilmar has shown their willingness to sacrifice the whole community for their profits by rejecting our proposal.”

Mr Wilson said that in an added insult to its workforce, Wilmar was attempting to “circumvent the unions by again putting their bad deal out to a ballot of workers without union consent”.

He said the new offer was worse than the one rejected last year, saying it was a “slap in the face to every worker”.

“The corporation’s lack of concern over the sugar industry, including mill workers and growers, is a disgrace,” he said.

“We will be voting down this deal once again and Wilmar will be back at square one, having angered the workers and cane growers and harmed their own profits.”

Originally published as Wilmar Sugar offers new EA proposal to workers to vote on