New sugar strikes after talks between Wilmar, unions again falter

Fresh sugar strikes are back on the table after conciliation talks between Wilmar and three unions failed.

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables' Victoria Mill fires into life at the start of the 2024 sugar-cane crush harvest on the outskirts of Ingham in the Herbert River region (Hinchinbrook) of North Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

Fresh sugar strikes are back on the table after conciliation talks between Wilmar and three unions faltered.

Australian Workers Union Northern District Secretary Jim Wilson said Wilmar Sugar and Renewables had “again refused to make a fair offer to their workforce” in the Fair Work Commission on Monday.

“We have once again seen the same tired old arguments from Wilmar,” he said.

“While we finally saw some slight movement from the company, they still refuse to provide an offer which will sustain the sugar industry in North Queensland.”

Mr Wilson said Wilmar had revealed that its “Singaporean executives had authorised them to pay up to 16 per cent over four years”.

“This is a slap in the face to their workforce, the cane growers and the local communities who have been told several times Wilmar had given their ‘best and final’ offer at 14.75 per cent.”

Wilmar Sugar and Renewables' Victoria Mill fires into life at the start of the 2024 sugar-cane crush harvest on the outskirts of Ingham in the Herbert River region (Hinchinbrook) of North Queensland. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Wilson said Wilmar had again attempted to use the “same tired old arguments”, including discredited inflation figures and other “misleading data” to justify its stance over pay.

AWU members will continue with industrial action, with a scheduled stoppage for an hour at 5am on Saturday morning.

Mr Wilson said Wilmar has been scheduling maintenance days to coincide with work stoppages, “then claiming the stoppage time spent doing maintenance was due to industrial action.”

“This is the sort of dishonest nonsense Wilmar specialises in,” he said.

“Fortunately, the growers who have been dealing with them for years can see through their half-smart games.”

The announcement followed what Wilmar said on Monday were “constructive” discussions.

A company spokesman said Fair Work had helped the parties in “narrowing the gap further between unions’ claims and company offers”.

“These confidential discussions are ongoing and without prejudice, so we do not intend to discuss details outside the negotiating room.”

The spokesman said the company, Australia’s largest raw sugar producer with eight mills in Queensland, was disappointed to receive notice of the additional industrial action within 15 minutes of Monday’s discussions ending.

Originally published as New sugar strikes after talks between Wilmar, unions again falter