May 4, 2007

Lockout ends with workers' victory

After being locked out for two and a half days Amcor workers have won a deal meeting their demands and returned to work.

The fifty Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members were locked out on Tuesday at noon after they refused the multinational packaging company's attempts to cut staffing numbers to unsafe levels.

EPMU national secretary Andrew Little says the workers can return to their site with their heads held high.

"These workers were prepared to stick this out as long as it took but they'll be relieved this dispute has come to a close so quickly.

"Our members tried to negotiate in good faith and were met with the most extreme and militant response an employer can offer. It's good to see common sense has prevailed and they can now get back to doing their jobs under fair and equitable circumstances."

The deal consisted of appropriate staffing levels without redundancies, an extra week's service and shift leave, an industry standard pay rise and a day's pay to compensate for some of the lockout time.

Members voted unanimously to support the deal.

ENDS

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