Vehicle component workers from Brunswick, Victoria can continue with protected industrial action, after a court action to stop strike activity was withdrawn by the company's managers this week.

In January Autonexus offered workers new workplace agreement that lowered pay and conditions, removed penalty rates and significantly changed roster arrangements.

The workers unanimously rejected the offer and called for management to listen to their concerns.  

“They propose to say to any worker, with 14 days notice, your roster is now Monday to Saturday, you don’t have any access to double time. Everyone on the floor finds that unacceptable,” said AMWU organiser Antony Moore.

“The company is trying to introduce a two tiered system in which some workers have certain conditions and others have different pay and conditions. We will continue industrial action until they offer a decent, single agreement.”

The workers who manufacture internal components for vehicles, are carrying out a tender to service communication systems for Victoria Police vehicles.  

“The guys realise they have skills that can’t be performed by just anyone. They won’t be undervalued or taken advantage of.”

On Wednesday, management withdrew an application before FairWork Australia to block lawful stop-work action by union members at the site.

“The AMWU demonstrated to the commission the correct processes had been followed, and the company had in fact lost the documents surrounding the action,” Mr Moore said.

“The workers had been told their plans for protected action were unlawful and they would be fined thousands of dollars. They were verbally warned by their managers and effectively bullied into backing down from any action.

“They have not been fooled by these kinds of tactics, they have not been intimidated. They have shown that if you stay together and hold the line, you can hold back even the most militant IR warriors.”