After planned industrial action last week that was cancelled at the eleventh hour, the JBS meatworks in Rockhampton will close as workers walk off the job this Friday.
Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union’s Lee Norris said the company decided to close the factory entirely for the day, rather than allowing workers to stop work for four hours.
"We regard this as a lock-out," he said.
The workers are fighting for a four per cent pay rise to be made part of their bargaining agreement.
Two weeks ago the same situation occurred, after workers announced plans to strike for four hours, and the company closed the factory for the day in response.
JBS has offered 3 per cent, which it has previously said is reasonable and fair, but workers want the company to agree to the AMIEU’s four per cent wage increase claim.