Sugar factories resume processing as industrial action is suspended

After hearing the views of three trade unions and Wilmar, the Commission ordered a six-week suspension of industrial action after the unions informed the company of their plans to carry out a series of work stoppages in the coming weeks.

In its submissions to the Fair Work Commission, Wilmar outlined the impact that bans and work stoppages would have on the regional economy.

A Wilmar spokesman said all factories in Burdekin were expected to restart this week, assuming no further rain fell in the region.

“Further south, Proserpine Mill is also expected to start crushing on Tuesday and Plane Creek Mill in Sarina looks promising for Tuesday or Wednesday,” the spokesman said.

“Our Macknade plant in the Herbert region in the north is expected to come into production tomorrow (Monday), with the Victoria plant following mid-week,” he said.

The spokesperson also said that this suspension will provide time for further negotiations on company agreements while minimizing the immediate risk to the annual harvest season.

Jim Wilson, Northern District Secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), said the union was disappointed with the commission’s decision.

“We filed an appeal last night (Sunday), fairly soon after the decision was announced,” he said.

“Our legal team tells us that there is definitely a basis for an appeal and that there are some credibility issues with the witnesses that we think could be set out in a little more detail on appeal.”

“In the meantime, this means that our industrial action is on hold, so we’re just going back to the bargaining table… so we’re just going to keep going and keep fighting until we can get a fair outcome.”

Mr Wilson said Wilmar could not attribute future delays at the factories to rain or industrial action, but rather to a lack of skilled workers.

“Wilmar has blamed the strikes for the baling delays. Our members know that the strikes – or the wet weather – are not the only reasons for the delays, but that the delays have been caused by the lack of skilled labor,” he said.

“Any delay, any disruption not caused by wet weather now falls on Wilmar management, they have no more excuses.”