MUA and ETU workers at CBH Kwinana Grain Terminal kick off protective action against stalled EBA negotiations

CBH workers at the Kwinana Grain Terminal will strike against WA’s largest grain handler on Friday over stalled enterprise agreement negotiations. For two hours on Friday maintenance and electrical union members and non-union workers will stop all work and hold a barbecue out the front of the terminal in response to stalled EBA negotiations. A post on the Maritime Union of Australia — WA branch said the protected action against Co-Operative Bulk Handling Group started on Wednesday, with additional work bans taking effect throughout the week. Striking workers are seeking updated pay rates consistent with CBH’s other maintenance departments, an improved roster and shift loading. MUA members and Electrical Trades Union members have been undergoing enterprise agreement negotiations with the grain handler since the previous agreements expired in May. Since members of both unions aired their support for a protection action ballot last month, there has been two further meetings with their bargaining committee and CBH to progress and attempt to finalise negotiations. But negotiations have stalled, prompting the industrial action at the grain terminal. Protective actions will include stoppages of work, bans on the loading and unloading of trains, and operational and maintenance-based tasks. “The members at CBH Kwinana have kicked off protected action today, starting with a range of work bans effects unloading/loading of trains, trucks, and ships, along with various other operational and maintenance based tasks — with more work bans taking effect over the course of this week,” the MUA post reads. Over 100 members of the MUA are working across operations and maintenance at the grain terminal. A CBH spokesman confirmed that plant operators and maintenance employees would be taking protected industrial action, and said the grain handler was “disappointed” by the industrial action. “For the past four months, CBH has been negotiating in good faith with employees and the union to reach an agreement that works for all parties,” he said. “We are focused on a win-win outcome; good for our people, and good for WA growers and the wider co-operative. “While we respect the right to participate in industrial action if done through the proper channels, we are of course disappointed particularly as progress was being made.” The spokesman said that since March when the negotiations began, 10 meetings have been held and more than 100 claims from the unions for CBH to work through. “A high performing network and supply chain are crucial for the long-term success of WA grain growers, regional communities and the wider economy,” the spokesman said. “Any disruption to this impacts the viability of WA grain growers and our regional communities. “We are actively working for a resolution with our plant operators and maintenance employees, and the unions, for an agreement to be in place as soon as possible. “We will continue to engage and negotiate in good faith with the unions, and we sincerely hope that they do too.”