The Employment Court has ruled that Spotless Services' lockout of its staff is unlawful, and an attempt to compel workers into surrendering their right to strike. The SFWU is now pressing for backpay, but even if they don't get it it will still be a significant victory. Companies will now have to think twice before using "health and safety" as a pretext to abuse their workforce.
Hopefully now Spotless will come to the table and accept the national collective agreement agreed to by the DHBs and every other contractor. And if they don't, I would hope that the DHBs start looking seriously at cancelling their contracts for nonperformance.
