NSW: Villawood attempting to force staff back to work

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NSW: Villawood attempting to force staff back to work

The company that runs Australia's detention centres has applied for an urgent hearingto force striking employees back to work at its Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney.

Workers at Villawood walked off the job this morning for a 24 hour strike over concernsabout increasing violence and staffing shortages.

And the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union says it's thefirst of a series of rolling stoppages at all refugee detention centres run by AustralasianCorrectional Management.

Union spokeswoman JO-ANNE SCHOFIELD says more than 100 workers formed a picket lineoutside the Villawood Detention Centre this morning.

Australasian Correctional Management -- which also runs four prisons in Australia --has successfully applied for an urgent hearing in the Australian Industrial RelationsCommission this morning.

It's expected to ask the commission to order its employees back to work.

AAP RTV kbw/hn/rcg/rt

KEYWORD: VILLAWOOD (SYDNEY)