After 30 days locked out, the workers at Opal have negotiated a better deal and returned to work.

You may remember that after a few workers rebelled against management trying to cut pay and conditions, the owners of the Maryville Paper mill locked out the WHOLE workforce - which meant a significant part of the community was without wages for a whole month.

The company was demanding cuts to overtime pay that would see workers about $10,000 a year worse off, and the removal of redundancy protections. But the workers refused to cave to management's demands, stuck together, and have won pay rises between 9.5% and 13.6% over 3 years, plus a $2500 bonus.

They have retained the redundancy provisions that the company wanted to cut, and agreed to working hours time off in lieu changes that mean all workers are better off.

Before this lockout these workers hadn't taken action for 20 years - so this took enormous strength and solidarity - congratulations to the workers and the community that supported them.