Lockout threat at Parliament

Parliament's security guards have been threatened with a lockout after they walked off the job while the House was sitting yesterday.

The guards were among 130 personnel - including library, building maintenance and administrative workers and messengers and - who left their posts for two hours from 1.30pm.

The strike coincided with the 2pm Question Time - one of the busiest times in Parliament and among the most popular with visitors.

Parliamentary Service manager Geoff Thorne said that while management had been able to cover in that instance, it put the safety of those in Parliament at risk.

"I have written to the [Public Service Association] advising that if the rolling strikes continue, I will consider locking the security staff out of the workplace. Safety on the precinct is vital and the union's action could compromise this."

PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said it was "a disgraceful attempt at intimidation that will not work". He said the guards' actions were a legitimate protest.

The dispute began after the staff were offered a zero pay rise and cuts to redundancy protection.