The Office of Workplace Services has initiated Federal Court action against a Melbourne electrical components firm that denied 56 workers a full week's pay for implementing overtime bans.

While they had worked a full week, Electrical Trades Union (ETU) members at Heinemann Electric in south-east suburban Mulgrave imposed the ban on overtime in late August in support of enterprise bargaining negotiations.

At the time, Heinemann Electric general manager Richard Ross said workers and the company had not been able to agree on work hours in enterprise bargaining and the overtime ban, effective for 12 months, was a breach of industrial laws.

The company had the power to withhold the workers' pay, Mr Ross said.
"The ETU chose to ask its members to engage in industrial action. It was up to the union to decide what action it wanted to take," he said. But Office of Workplace Services (OWS) director Nicholas Wilson said the OWS would take action in the Federal Court to recover the workers' wages.

Mr Wilson said the OWS alleged the company breached its existing enterprise agreement with the workers by withholding pay for ordinary hours they had worked.

"Any employer considering withholding payment for periods of industrial action, or who is uncertain of their obligations or entitlements, can contact the OWS before deciding on a course of action," Mr Wilson said in a statement.

Source: Sydney Morning Hearld | AAP