Tully Mill is feeling the pressure as workers initiate industrial action, disrupting the preparation for the mill’s most profitable season.
Workers at Tully mill have begun actioning work bans on operating heavy-duty equipment involving high-risk tickets, the use of keys (including locks for doors, vehicles, personal isolation locks and electronic swipe keys) and using computers to document work.
Workers performed these bans for two days this week and have two more periods of bans planned next week.
AWU Queensland Branch Secretary Stacey Schinnerl said that the scale and duration of the Tully industrial action is flexible and will be determined by the success of the ongoing negotiations.
“The industrial action workers are taking has significantly disrupted the mills pre-crushing season steam trials, especially the bans on operating the steam turbines which are integral to preparing the Mill for its peak earning season.”
“Workers are attending a bargaining meeting on Wednesday where we are hopeful that Tully will come to the table with a reasonable offer,” Ms Schinnerl said.
“The current offer from Tully is offensively low as workers would barely be in line with the current cost of living by the end of 2027.”
“We are not asking for the world, just a deal that keeps our members heads above water with the current cost of living pressures.”
“Workers in Far North Queensland are not going to be shortchanged by a Chinese multinational corporation making record profits,” Ms Schinnerl said.
“If Tully offers a fair deal that keeps up with soaring cost of living pressures, then workers will stop the bans and get back to work.”
“Until then, our members are prepared to keep fighting and we will win.”
Media contact: Emily Searle (0421 160 866)
Background:
This action followed a protected action ballot where workers conclusively voted in favour of taking industrial action to further their campaign for a fair pay rise.
100% of AWU members who participated in the ballot voted in favour of the industrial action, which includes strike action of 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours and 48 hours.
It also includes (but is not limited to) work bans on performing overtime, call outs and working with contractors.
The AWU is asking for a 24% pay rise over three years, Tully has offered an 11.8% pay rise over 3 years.
Our Coverage
The Australian Workers’ Union is one of Queensland’s oldest and largest blue collar trade unions.
The AWU represents workers in the sugar industry and has hundreds of members who work for sugar mills across Queensland.