22 Oct 2011

Union wins injunction over 'militant' lock out

9:00 pm on 22 October 2011

The Service and Food Workers Union and the Public Service Association have won an interim injuction against a company which locked out staff over what the unions say was very low level industrial action.

The PSA says workers at the Pact Group, who look after elderly people with mental disabilities, had decided to refuse to do paperwork as part a campaign for higher pay.

The unions say it was disproportionate for the company to respond with a lockout.

"It's a very militant thing for any employer to do, to lock out their staff. That has an immediate impact on the people who our members look after, so we're delighted that the court has seen our arguement and has agreed to put this interim injunction in place," said the PSA's acting National Secretary Jeff Osbourne.

The Employment Court has ordered the Pact Group to cease the lockout, and the unions say further negotiations will take place on Tuesday.