Opal Lockout Spurs Widespread Stand-downs

Nippon Paper's Opal Lockout Causing Massive Stand-downs The brutal lockout of over 300 pulp and paper workers by Nippon Paper's Opal at Maryvale in the Latrobe Valley has led to stand-downs and reduction of hours for about 100 workers employed by Opal contractors. "Clearly Nippon Paper's Opal has no regard for either their employees or other businesses and their employees" said Denise Campbell-Burns, Pulp and Paper Worker District Secretary. "Like our members – who were given 60mins notice of the lockout – we understand these other companies were given no warning and were caught unprepared, leaving them and their employees blindsided by Opal's directive." The Union predicted that further stand-downs may occur at other Opal sites. This week has seen the locked-out workers receive support from the wider trade union movement with the ACTU weighing in and the AMWU, Mining and Energy Union and Victorian Trades Hall Council pledging support. "Our members are determined and refuse to be stood over by Nippon's Opal and are heartened by the messages of support from the local community and across the country" said Anthony Pavey, Secretary of the Pulp and Paper Maryvale Sub-Branch. "We have taken pay cuts; reset our wages and been reclassified and still they keep trying to pick our pockets to solve their mismanagement crisis". Yesterday the locked-out workers set up a community presence at the Maryvale Mill and vowed to stay there until the lockout is removed and they can return to work.