CANEGROWERS Urges Wilmar Sugar and Unions to Resolve Pay Dispute Through Arbitration

CANEGROWERS is calling on Wilmar Sugar and the unions representing mill workers to step aside and allow the Fair Work Commission to resolve their prolonged and increasingly hostile pay dispute. After months of fruitless negotiations,

CANEGROWERS

Chairman Owen Menkens has urged both parties to let an independent umpire decide a fair and reasonable outcome.

“It’s clear that the parties involved are either unable or unwilling to reach an agreement, despite the damage it’s doing to farming families, the sugarcane industry, and their own communities,”

Mr. Menkens said.

CANEGROWERS has repeatedly emphasized the importance of a fair pay deal for workers while ensuring the fnancial viability of milling companies.

However, the dispute has become more contentious, with no compromise in sight.

“Our representatives have had several meetings with Wilmar and union offcials, but the response has been disappointing, with rumours, inconsistent communication, and misinformation undermining confdence in the industry,” Mr.

Menkens added. In response to the stalemate, CANEGROWERS has written to both Wilmar and the unions, urging them to apply to the Fair Work Commission for arbitration. “You’ve had your chance to reach a compromise, and you’ve failed. This can’t continue indefnitely,”

Mr. Menkens stated. “It’s impacting the harvest, growers, contractors, families, and the entire industry. It’s time to admit you’ve reached an intractable stalemate and let an independent third party decide the issue.”

Photo by Kerry Raymond

The ongoing rolling stoppages at Wilmar mills, which process about half of Queensland’s sugarcane, have already taken a heavy toll on growers and contractors, both fnancially and emotionally.

“This is already a challenging season, and if we’re to have any chance of success, we need to start working together rather than being hindered by strike action,” Mr. Menkens concluded.

“For everyone’s sake, either make a deal now or engage the Fair Work Commission to resolve the issue you’re clearly unable to. Let’s get this crop off and strive to make the 2024 season a success.”