UNION members at Wyndham Council have walked off the job in support of five colleagues who were sacked last week.
As reported by the Weekly, the five workers were part of the council’s parks and gardens team and were based at its Old Geelong Road depot.
They lost their jobs last Thursday after the council conducted an investigation into their behaviour during work hours.
The Australian Services Union has accused the council of hiring a private investigator to pose as a casual labourer for three months to spy on staff and photograph them engaging in misconduct.
The five workers, one of whom had worked for the council for 25 years, were accused of offences including drinking and taking drugs on the job, shopping during work hours and failing to supervise other workers.
Council chief executive Kerry Thompson denied the council had been involved in untoward behaviour and said Fair Work Australia had been asked to end the unprotected industrial action.
A commission hearing will take place this afternoon.
ASU assistant branch secretary Richard Duffy said the union would ask the commission to hear unfair dismissal claims from the five workers at the hearing.
Ms Thompson said staff participating in the industrial action would face sanctions including loss of pay.
