Industrial action at Seven West’s West Australian Newspapers has led to 102 AMWU-member printers being locked out.

The dominant Perth daily and its Sunday Times stablemate have been printed by management and casuals, with some reports of inconsistent quality including a photograph published by Australian printing trade publication Print21.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union claims changes to an enterprise bargaining agreement would slash conditions, and has opted to continue the dispute.

Seven West Media, for its part, says its “unfortunate, but necessary” decision to lock out striking workers followed a walk-out on February 3. “We remain committed to negotiations to provide sustainable employment conditions and hope to resolve a deal,” said a spokesman.

AMWU print division federal secretary Lorraine Cassin said after a meeting, the company was “obviously not trying to come to this to resolve the issue” and had presented an “even harsher offer” than that on the table. “We don’t understand why they’re taking such a harsh view to their workers who have been loyal during the pandemic and come to work, and are asking for just what we would consider a reasonable wage increase, which the workers haven’t received at all for two and a half years now,” she said.

West Australian Newspapers operates a complex Koenig & Bauer line consisting of double-width coldset Colora units alongside a single-width heatset Comet press with a total of six folders, 24 reelstands and the potential to link the two lines.

Pictured: Flexible high speed mailroom equipment represents only part of the complexity of the WAN printing plant