More than 70 maintenance workers at AGL Loy Yang power station were in the thick of unlawful strike action yesterday, protesting against the recent sacking of 20 colleagues.
Former full time and casual employees from contractor Transfield Worley Power Services are understood to have left the job on Tuesday, after learning the redundancies were unsuccessfully challenged in the Fair Work Commission on Monday.
The union representing the majority of the workforce, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, has since been ordered under Section 418 of the Fair Work Act to communicate the unlawful nature of the strike action to its members.
“The blokes were very angry about the redundancies and have gone on strike. The company has gone to FWC and got this order, which the union will be complying with,” AMWU organiser Steve Dodd said.
Last month it emerged TWPS was moving to shed 20 of its workforce, after AGL informed the contractor of “work scope” changes as part of a wider efficiency drive.
