FAIRFAX journalists had been ordered back to work by 1pm (AEST) today after going out on strike yesterday afternoon.
Sydney Morning Herald and Sun-Herald journalists walked out over plans to axe 35 production jobs as part of a major restructure of the mastheads.
In the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) today, Commissioner Gregory Harrison upheld an application by Fairfax for an order preventing further industrial action over the next three months.
Mr Harrison said the order would stand until August 10, 2007.
Survey: Are you working overtime?
Senior Sydney Morning Herald editor and co-convener for the Fairfax staff house committee, Gerard Noonan, said staff would meet this afternoon to discuss the commission's decision.
The company has agreed to discussions this afternoon at 4pm (AEST) Mr Noonan said.
That hasn't proved very useful up to now but maybe the fact that we've taken industrial action might make them sit up and take some more notice.
Unlawful action
He said taking industrial action over the next three months was always going to be unlawful.
But this extra order means that it would place us in contempt over an order, so it's a higher level of constraint that the system provides employers, he said.
More than 100 Fairfax employees packed into the commission courtroom before today's order was made.
The decision to strike by 258 workers at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sun-Herald coincided with the formal completion yesterday of Fairfax's merger with Rural Press.
The strike action began last night after a meeting where the company's reorganisation and plans to introduce Australian Workplace Agreements were condemned.
The resolution to go on strike was passed with only eight dissenters, despite the fact staff at the meeting were warned of potential penalties of $6000 each under the Government's Work Choices legislation.
Staff present at the meeting were also understood to be angered by an email from James Hooke, Fairfax's NSW managing director, in which it was announced the company would make a final decision'' on its reorganisation plan by today.
With The Australian
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