Shake-up for sugar terminal executives

EXECUTIVES rather than operational staff look to be in the firing line in a contentious shake-up of the management of Queensland’s bulk sugar terminals.

Terminal owner Sugar Terminals Ltd has committed to offer all “site-based operational” staff the same employment terms and conditions in its takeover from industry body Queensland Sugar Ltd.

The shock move was revealed this week, drawing the ire of peak body Canegrowers and QSL who were not previously consulted or advised.

“QSL has a long and proud history of operating Queensland’s bulk sugar terminals and we are disappointed that STL would take such a unilateral action providing only vague and inaccurate justification in their public announcements,” QSL CEO Greg Beashel said.

STL CEO David Quinn gave the commitment to employees in a statement.

The terminals employ 150 people including almost 70 staff in Townsville and Lucinda. Other terminals are in Cairns, Mourilyan, Mackay and Bundaberg.

“STL recognises the skill and experience of the current workforce who operate the terminals and we are committed to offering employment to all site-based operational employees on the same terms and conditions of employment, recognising their length of service and accrued entitlements,” Mr Quinn said.

But he said unnecessary duplication existed due to the allocation of costs incurred from the QSL board, executive, support functions, insurance policies and auditing requirements.

Insourcing would also enable STL to better pursue a “diversification strategy”, Mr Quinn said.

STL is understood to looking to work the terminal assets harder to boost revenues.