Door maker shuts workers out
By Ewin Hannan From The Australian May 29, 2010
WORKERS employed at manufacturer Spence Doors believed their boss was doing so well out of the federal government's Building the Education Revolution program that they decided to pursue a 5 per cent annual pay rise.
But their union's bid for a share of the company's profits yesterday resulted in the employees being locked out of their workplace in the Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham.
Spence Doors provided doors for schools refurbished under the government program, and its work has been cited by Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard in federal parliament.
The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union said it had foreshadowed legal industrial action in support of its pay claim.
Leo Skourdoumbis, assistant national secretary of the union's forestry and furnishing products division, said 40 employees found they were locked out when they arrived at work yesterday.
He described the company's response as "over the top", saying there had been four security guards at the factory entrance blocking access. He said the company had also called police to attend the premises. Mr Skourdoumbis said the company specialised in government work, securing contracts to supply hospitals, local council and parliamentary offices.
He claimed the company's management had "bragged" to employees about how much work it had secured through the BER.
He said he believed the company had profited significantly from BER work and employees should share in that success.
"All we're saying is that a fair share should come back to the loyal employees. They shouldn't be treated like this -- confronted by police and security guards -- when they have turned up to do an honest day's work," he said.
"Our claim is pretty reasonable. It's 5 per cent per annum over three years."
He said management wrote to the employees this week warning them they would be locked out if they went ahead with industrial action in support of the claim.
Spence Doors general manager Richard Lees did not respond to requests for comment yesterday. It is believed the company has offered a 3 per cent pay increase, and backdated a 2 per cent wage rise to January this year.
The lockout is expected to continue until at least Monday.
