Cameron Vincent

On September 12, Mechanical Engineering Services Pty Ltd notified the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) that the company would be locking out 45 of its employees from its Yallourn premises for up to three months.

Gippsland Trades and Labour Council secretary John Parker claims that when the company took over the Skilled Engineering Services’ Yallourn workshop 18 months ago it “guaranteed to abide by the agreements that were in place” including guaranteeing the entitlements of the workers. It also “agreed to work with the unions in a constructive manner to try to revitalise the workshop, which has been on the wane for several years through lack of investment. Instead of working with employees and unions, the company has intimidated workers and their shop steward.”

At the end of March, the company informed the workers that it was terminating their enterprise agreement and sought a new agreement that would take away a number of important conditions from workers, including salary continuance or income protection. It sought to take away rostered days off and give workers a small wage increase that was below current standards.

The workers rejected the company’s “offer”. On August 23 the AMWU was granted an order by the industrial relations commission for a ballot to be held on August 30 for the workers to decide on taking protected industrial action. Following the ballot, the workers put bans on overtime, temporary upgrades and temporary shift work. On September 13 the lockout began.

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