Grain terminal workers at CBH’s Kwinana facility have now been locked out for the second time in two months, even though no industrial action has been taken in the past five weeks, in an episode of “mendacious corporate bastardry,” according to the Maritime Union’s WA Branch.
In recent weeks, the company presented a proposed agreement which workers have described as a substandard and which was put to a democratic vote of the workforce. The result was that all but three individuals rejected it. The overwhelming view is that the proposed agreement is unfair and unworkable, and it was clear the company was not interested in achieving any kind on consensus with its workforce.
Rather than engaging in further negotiation, CBH has now resorted to corporate thuggery and childish gameplaying, locking out its workforce this morning after sending a written counteroffer at 8:30pm last night and bringing in a scab workforce today to undermine their existing workforce.
“Over 130 workers are affected by these deceitful and mendacious corporate bullying tactics. Notwithstanding the scab workforce being brought in, the lockout and the wilful mistreatment of a loyal workforce threatens the timely handling of the record harvest and exposes CBH’s unwillingness to act cooperatively or constructively toward a fair outcome,” said Will Tracey, the WA Branch Secretary of the MUA.
Since the last lockout in early September, workers have not undertaken any protected industrial action, work bans or stoppages, but have sought to achieve a fair deal at the negotiation table.
“CBH’s most recent proposal was democratically voted upon by the workforce. All but three workers rejected it, so it shows the strength of opinion in the workplace about the company’s substandard offer, so when they make another substandard counteroffer late last night and lock us out first thing this morning before we’ve had a chance to respond, it’s clear they don’t want to achieve a consensus outcome,” said Mr Tracey.
“A number of issues remain in dispute, but the Union was working in good faith to resolve these differences through negotiation. This has been completely undermined by the company’s latest lockout and their brazenly deceitful and combative behaviour overnight,” Mr Tracey added.
The Kwinana terminal plays a critical role in processing this season’s record grain yield. The lockout jeopardises timely export and port operations. CBH’s pattern of offering below-inflation terms, refusing to negotiate after rejection, and resorting to lockouts shows it is not seriously interested in a fair or cooperative resolution.
"This is a massive escalation by CBH. They know full well workers have not threatened industrial action, yet they again shut the gates and bring in scabs. This is brazen corporate thuggery being used to bully and intimidate a group of hard-working employees who have stood up to demand a better deal,” Mr Tracey said.
“The workforce has spoken loud and clear that the company’s offer is not acceptable. Only three individuals voted for it. That level of rejection is proof that it does not meet the needs or expectations of the people doing the work,” Mr Tracey said.
The MUA points to CBH’s decision to lock out the workforce as being a major risk to the logistics of the bumper 2025 harvest.
“This tantrum shows that CBH are not serious about bargaining in good faith and can’t be trusted to sit at this critically important juncture within the supply chain. The community, the farming sector, and the nation deserve better from CBH, not this corporate arrogance when supply chains and livelihoods are at stake," Mr Tracey added.
The MUA makes clear that CBH workers remain ready to negotiate, but that requires CBH managers to return to the table with a genuine, fair offer.
Any further lockout serves only to magnify the risk to the grain export supply chain.
ENDS
Contact details:
Will Tracey: 0423 895 575