December 11, 2002
Media Release
Top Energy plans Xmas lockout
Northern lines maintenance company Top Energy is planning to lock out its workers from Christmas Day.
The company today issued 52 lines workers with lockout notices, effective from midnight on December 25 until midnight on
January 5.
The lockout means that the workers will not be able to work at all during that time – even in an emergency.
The workers have been in dispute with the company since June, when their collective employment agreement expired. They
are seeking a four per cent pay rise. The company wants to increase their hours of work from eight a day to nine a day.
EPMU organiser Heinz Schmitt said that the workers had been planning a limited strike from December 20.
“They were going to work their 40 hours a week, and provide emergency cover,” he said.
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