Toll blasts union's no show at court

14 Jul 2012, 5:01 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Striking workers picket the Coles warehouse in Somerton in northern Melbourne. (AAP)

Striking workers picket the Coles warehouse in Somerton in northern Melbourne. (AAP)

Toll Group says its bid to stop a picket by striking Coles warehouse workers is urgent, with some employees keen to return to work, a court has heard.

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Toll Group says its bid to stop a picket by striking Coles warehouse workers is urgent, with some employees keen to return to work, a court has heard.

National Union of Workers (NUW) members have blocked trucks from entering or leaving the Somerton warehouse in Melbourne's north since Tuesday as they fight for better pay and conditions.

Toll Group lawyer Stuart Wood sought an ex parte interim injunction to stop the blockade after union lawyers failed to turn up to the emergency hearing at the Victorian Supreme Court on Saturday.

An ex parte injunction can be granted when a court hears argument from only one party to an urgent dispute.

Mr Wood said stopping the picket to allow 150 shift workers who wish to return to work was urgent.

"There are real-life individuals whose livelihoods are being impacted by the picket," he told the court.

"It is having a deleterious impact on employees who wish to cross the picket and work at the Somerton site."

Mr Wood said the union's failure to show up created a significant tactical advantage by extending the blockade until Monday.

Toll Group, which manages the warehouse on Coles' behalf, says the injunction targeted NUW leadership and 25 individuals involved in the blockade, including Toll Group employees.

The hearing comes after the 600 striking workers won the right from Fair Work Australia on Friday to continue picketing.
 

Coles , Toll Group

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