AGREEMENT still cannot be reached in the pay dispute between Wilmar Sugar and its employees, resulting in more industrial action being taken at the company’s mills.
Wilmar Sugar and Renewables met with representatives of three unions, last week, to discuss the current position in relation to the company’s enterprise bargaining dispute.
“We again reinforced our commitment to finding a mutually acceptable solution by suggesting new options for an agreement, based largely on a suggested solution from Fair Work Commissioner Bernie Riordan,” a Wilmar spokesman said.
“We have left it with unions to come back to us on the options put forward.”
However, one of the unions representing the workers – the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union – disputes this.
AMWU communications and campaigns officer Angus Haigh said the union’s members planned to continue taking industrial action for ‘as long as necessary’ until they were paid a ‘fair and reasonable wage’.
“Wilmar pushed for the Fair Work Commission to make a recommendation, in an attempt to resolve the protracted negotiations and costly industrial dispute,” Mr Haigh said.
“However, Wilmar did not like the outcome of that recommendation and has chosen not to adopt it.
“Understandably, this has outraged our members, who plan to continue exercising their lawful right to take industrial action, for as long as necessary.
“This is the only way to force Wilmar to do the right thing: Pay our members a fair and reasonable wage for the crucial role they play in the North Queensland economy.”
Wilmar Sugar and Renewables’ full statement, issued on August 13, reads:
Wilmar Sugar and Renewables and representatives of three unions met today, at the company’s request, to discuss current positions in relation to their enterprise bargaining dispute.
Wilmar suggested today’s meeting following discussions two weeks ago, in Townsville, facilitated by Fair Work Commissioner Bernie Riordan.
Subsequent to those discussions, Commissioner Riordan recommended some potential solutions to a range of issues in dispute.
A Wilmar spokesman said the meeting established that each side saw merit in exploring at least some of the Commissioner’s suggestions and a number of options were raised.
“We reinforced again our commitment to finding a mutually acceptable solution by suggesting new options for an agreement based, in large part, on a suggested solution from Commissioner Riordan,” the spokesman said.
“We see these as a possible opportunity for headway. We have left it with unions to come back to us on the options put forward.”
