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By Anthony Benbow. PERTH — Workers at E Green & Sons at Harvey, 100km south of Perth, returned to work on September 28, with a substantial pay increase and agreement by the company to implement proper skill recognition. The entire work force walked off the job on September 19 after management had threatened to stand everyone down. This threat was the result of workers taking a two-day "protective action" stoppage when year-long enterprise negotiations had yet again broken down. A 24-hour picket was mounted on the abattoir and received strong support from other unions and the local community. Management continued to refuse to accept the workers' demands and on September 25 took some industrial action of its own, instituting a lockout. However this tactic backfired, with support for the workers continuing and farmers pressuring the company to lift its lockout and end the dispute, as cattle prices were being affected. The company resumed talks the day after the lockout on September 26, and workers returned to work victorious. "EG Green is the biggest meat export abattoir in WA", said AMIEU (Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union) organiser Graeme Haynes. "They are one of the wealthiest meat companies in Australia yet were not conforming with pay rates that have been in place for years. "We won pay rises amounting to over 16% for both wage and tally (piece) workers. We also got the company to agree to properly classify and recognise the skills in the industry", Haynes continued. "Of course, the workers have made it clear that any more delays in the negotiations will result in further action."