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29 August 2009

Bundaberg sugar workers will return to duties from midday today (Saturday, 29 August) after their employer agreed to not target their leave entitlements.

Australian Workers' Union Senior Industrial Advocate Chris Simpson said workers met today and agreed to return to work if the foreign-owned Bundaberg Sugar did not seek to roll-back the five days' travel leave entitlement for workers.

"Bundaberg Sugar workers were forced to take protected industrial action due to the company's plan. The company responded by locking out workers from the Millaquin and Bingera mills at Bundaberg," he said.

"Workers have consistently said they wanted to keep travel leave and continue to use that time with their families."

"Bundaberg Sugar have told us and the workers the issue of travel leave is off the table."

Mr Simpson said workers agreed, if the lock-out ended, to return to work from midday today.

"This is a crucial time for the sugar industry - the crushing season. Our members have only ever wanted to keep their entitlements and get back to the task of crushing the local cane crop and producing high quality sugar," he said.

"This is a victory for workers, their families and commonsense."

The AWU will finalise negotiations with Bundaberg Sugar.