AUSTRALIAN Workers Union staff employed as grain handlers at GrainCorp’s New South Wales site have voted to accept a proposal brokered by AWU and GrainCorp representatives.

The proposal relates to a pay rise of 6 percent in both the current and 2025-26 financial years, and 2pc for 2026-27, and its acceptance puts an end to rolling stoppages at GrainCorp sites in NSW, where the winter-crop harvest is in full swing,

AWU workers overwhelmingly voted in favour of the proposal over a 24-hour period which finished at 0600 AEDT today.

AWU members working at GrainCorp sites in NSW received annual wage increases from FY21 to FY23 of 2pc per year, against annual rates of inflation of 2.9pc, 6.6pc and 4.1pc respectively.

AWU said this equated to a decline in real wages of 7.5pc over the three years, and prompted a move to protected industrial action, as authorised by the Fair Work Commission, after negotiations broke down with GrainCorp last month.

“Grain handlers backed each other, stood shoulder to shoulder and now they’ve had a great result, they’re stoked,” said AWU NSW assistant branch secretary Ron Cowdrey said.

“This is a huge win and it just shows if you work as a team and have each other’s backs you can achieve great things.

“Our members can now focus fully on getting in the winter harvest.”

Affected GrainCorp sites included Boggabri, Caragabal, Moree, Narrabri, and Parkes.

The three year-deal which AWU has voted in favour of includes a $1250 sign-on bonus and back pay.

The first pay rise will be backdated to 1 July 2024, the second will kick in on 1 July 2025, and the final increase will be implemented on 1 July 2026.

GrainCorp has responded positively to the AWU members vote in favour of accepting the proposal.

“We are pleased that NSW employees have voted in favour of their Enterprise Agreement,” A GrainCorp spokesperson said in a statement.

“This outcome reflects our commitment to providing a fair, competitive and supportive workplace for our valued team members.”

Source: AWU, GrainCorp