United Workers Union members at the Geelong and Portland sites are today (21 October) undertaking a 24-hour strike starting at 6:00 AM following a breakdown in negotiations about a new EBA with agricultural giant GrainCorp.
Around 100 workers across two GrainCorp sites in Geelong and Portland are walking off the job this morning over the company’s refusal to implement a workable rostering system, include the provision of safety equipment in the agreement and delivery of a fair pay rise, that helps to close the gap between GrainCorp sites.
The breakdown in negotiations comes after GrainCorp conceded earlier this year that it had underpaid Geelong GrainCorp workers to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars by failing to pay workers at the Geelong port a higher duties penalty entitlement for up to 6 years.
United Workers Union members at GrainCorp are undertaking strike action to raise the alarm about what they describe as a pattern of disrespect and underhanded tactics engaged in by management during the EBA negotiations.
Concerned about the scale and lack of transparency around the higher duties underpayment earlier this year, the United Workers Union flagged several other non-compliance issues and failure to adhere to the current agreement with management. To date, these issues have not been addressed.
Alarmingly, the company is now attempting to remove or amend these key clauses in the agreement, in which compliance issues were raised including clauses related to the span of hours and rostering and the duration that casual workers are engaged for.
GrainCorp has also refused the United Workers Union’s ongoing requests to be part of the company’s working group examining the higher grades duties underpayment, with the United Workers Union wanting adequate union representation to help ensure EBA compliance and accuracy of payouts.
Quotes attributable to Tom Czech, Lead Organiser, Food and Beverage, United Workers Union
“Our members rightfully don’t trust their employer in this negotiation, and why would they? Many of them were underpaid for years, and instead of doing the right thing, paying workers properly and adhering to the employment rules laid out in the agreement, Graincorp in these negotiations are seeking to gut the agreement and give themselves a get out of jail free card whilst trampling on workers hard-fought-for rights.
“What we have seen here is an ASX listed company refusing to provide our members with the basic workplace right of an effective roster. It’s pretty appalling that in 2025 our members are having to ask for such a basic workplace right as knowing when they need to be at work.
“Doctors, nurses, bus drivers, hospitality workers all get a roster. But a $1.67 billion dollar company doesn’t have the HR resources or skills to provide a workable rostering system for our members, so they too can plan their lives.”