Union fails to attend Coles dispute hearing

Union representatives have failed to attend a Supreme Court hearing over the industrial dispute at a Coles distribution centre in Melbourne's north.

Workers are maintaining a picket line at the Somerton warehouse as part of their campaign for more pay and better conditions.

No trucks can get in or out of the warehouse because of the picket, which began on Tuesday morning.

Warehouse operator Toll Holdings took the matter to the industrial umpire on Friday, arguing workers are breaking the law by stopping trucks entering and leaving the centre.

However, Fair Work Australia ruled the protest can continue.

The case was due to be held in the Victorian Supreme Court this afternoon but legal representatives for the National Union of Workers did not turn up.

The union said it did not receive a summons.

In its absence, lawyers for Toll are trying to have an interim order granted so the picket can be stopped until Monday morning.

Toll says it will also taking action against 25 people, including some of its employees, who have been identified as taking part in the blockade.

The company says it is concerned for its employees who it says want to return to work.

The Union's Tim Kennedy says the workers remain determined, despite the legal threat.

"Our action in Fair Work Australia has been proved to be correct," he said.

"The purpose of all this the company says is to remove the picket and we say simply that the action will cease and the picket will cease when Toll recognises the right of these workers to be treated the same as all of its other warehouse workers and it's as simple as that."

Source: ABC News, 14 July 2012