Terminal disruption as PN and union fight tit-for-tat battle

<p>Pacific National has today (Thursday, December 1) locked out intermodal staff at a number of terminals in response to what it says is a campaign of "reckless industrial action" by the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU).</p> <p>The 24-hour action means intermodal terminal operators and train crew at Port Augusta, Whyalla, Parkes and Broken Hill will be locked until 6am tomorrow (December 2).</p> <p>The lock out was a "direct response" to a series of rolling stoppages the RTBU had organised as negotiations between Pacific National and the union over a new employment agreement remained deadlocked, the company said.</p> <p>Those negotiations have dragged on for more than nine months and have involved more than 50 meetings.</p> <p>A Pacific National spokeswoman said the company had offered to meet RTBU negotiators if the industrial action was called off but the union had refused.</p> <p>"The RTBU is only prepared to meet after they have inflicted considerable damage to the company and its customers," the spokeswoman said.</p> <p>"Pacific National has been negotiating with the RTBU for over nine months.</p> <p>"The claims being put forward by the union are completely unreasonable."</p> <p>The RTBU said Pacific National had threatened further lockouts of intermodal staff from Monday (December 5) until Thursday (December 8), in response to its "protected industrial action" taking place in Western Australia today.</p> <p>The union said that its negotiating committee was prepared to recommence negotiations.</p> <p>"It is the company who walked away from the table and is refusing to negotiate any further," RTBU said. </p> <br />