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Hundreds of workers may refuse to load or unload grain trucks and trains across NSW during the upcoming winter harvest as part of industrial action against their employer GrainCorp.
An application was made to the Fair Work Commission on Tuesday for 200 union members to hold a protected action ballot.
If it is approved, NSW union members will vote on whether to take industrial action over claims their wages have fallen below the inflation rate.
GrainCorp's workforce can grow by 3,000 during the harvest peak.
"This is not a decision our members have taken lightly," Australian Workers' Union NSW secretary Tony Callinan said.
The union said workers' pay had gone backwards in real terms over the past three years with an annual increase of two per cent a year, despite inflation running much higher.
In a statement, a GrainCorp spokesperson said it was "disappointed" industrial action was being proposed, but the company respected workers' right to do so.
"GrainCorp continues to negotiate in good faith with our employees and the Australian Workers Union (AWU) and have held 10 meetings with them in the last six months," the spokesperson said.
About 200 GrainCorp staff are AWU members, but the company employs thousands of casuals. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)
GrainCorp's record profits
GrainCorp boasted a record result of $703 million for investors in 2022 and $565 million in 2023.
In an update to the ASX earlier this year, GrainCorp managing director and CEO Robert Spurway said the company had "delivered a resilient result in 1H24, as grain and oilseed markets normalise following three extraordinary years for the industry".
Mr Callinan said workers wanted better pay, given the company's profits were up.
"They're still offering substandard wage increases that are below inflation, and our members have had a gutful to be honest — they want a decent pay rise," Mr Callinan said.
"It's not like our members that live in regional and remote towns are squirrelling their money away for a rainy day, there's a cost-of-living crisis and every dollar that our members earn in these regional towns … is spent in the local community.
The union is also arguing for wage parity with GrainCorp staff in Queensland.
Mr Callinan accepted that regional communities may "respond negatively" to the timing of the proposed strike action, with large parts of NSW primed for a phenomenal season.
"We know farmers do it tough, it's not our intention to try and disrupt harvest but obviously our members have got to fight to get the best outcome they can," he said.
Farmers concerned
Justin Everitt from the NSW Farmers Association grains committee said there was always a lot riding on every harvest and a strike would be stressful.
"As a grower I would be extremely concerned about that," he said.
"In the northern part of the state where harvest has commenced it is looking to be a really large harvest, one of the best they've ever seen, so they don't need any more stress on their plate."
In the south of of the state farmers are feeling pressure after frosts took a big toll.
Mr Everitt, who farms at Brocklesby, said he had suffered frost damage to up the 60 per cent of his crop.
GrainCorp workers will vote next week on whether to strike for better pay. (Supplied: Australian Workers' Union)
"We've already had a massive blow, so we don't need anything else to give us dramas," he said.
The union and GrainCorp will meet next Friday before a vote on any industrial action is held.
The GrainCorp spokesperson said its goal was to continue discussions constructively, "ensuring a positive outcome for our employees while maintaining a strong and reliable service for growers on site".