Longwarry employee Mark Drayton said Tuesday’s morning shift workers were shocked at management’s heavy-handed response.
«We came in this morning wanting to work, and the company has responded extremely aggressively like this, without any warning,» he said.
«We are very angry and disappointed.»
About 50 full-time and casual workers are affected by the lockout at the Longwarry plant, which produces UHT milk and cream cheese.
The National Union of Workers said the Longwarry workforce was among the lowest-paid in the dairy industry, and staff had been calling for improved conditions in their pay deal to bring them in line with other Parmalat sites statewide.
Central to the dispute have been the union’s claim to allow casuals to convert to permanent positions after six months of full-time hours, and the company’s claim to allow it to change rosters without obtaining agreement from workers.
Parmalat Australia on Tuesday confirmed members of the National Union of Workers at its Longwarry site had commenced industrial action, which it said was «irresponsible and unnecessary.»
«Parmalat is disappointed the NUW has decided to commence strike action,» a company spokeswoman said.
«As a result, we have had to make the tough decision to close the site indefinitely. We believe the current packaged offer is fair and reasonable and we are committed and ready to further discuss the benefits of the packaged offer.»
The union’s secretary, Gary Maas, said the lockout was an «extreme» response to the workers’ rights to take protected industrial action.
«All workers want is to go some way towards achieving the same conditions that other workers in industry get, for the hard work that they do,» he said.
«Industry standards are good for everyone, including workers, their families and the regional communities this company is a part of.»