The national president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Michele O’Neil, will visit locked out workers at the Wambo Washery today.
Ms O’Neil will meet with workers affected by the lockout alongside representatives from the Mining and Energy Union. The visit comes as 19 workers remain locked out by Peabody Energy during ongoing enterprise bargaining negotiations.
The ACTU said the visit would draw attention to the broader implications of Australia’s industrial relations laws, which allow employers to lock out workers during protected industrial action. The union body has previously called for the laws to be reviewed so employers cannot unilaterally shut workers out of their workplaces while they are exercising lawful bargaining rights.
The lockout at the Wambo Washery has continued amid the bargaining dispute, with the Mining and Energy Union representing the affected workers.
