The issuance of an order by the Victoria Supreme Court for striking Coles warehouse workers has failed to end the deadlock in Somerton. The picket and blockade continues and entered its 10th day on Wednesday with Coles trucks still unable to enter or leave the compound.

Reports said that Toll Group, the operator of the warehouse, is talking with the police to break the blockade to allow the delivery of grocery items to Coles outlets across the nation.

Besides dispersing members of the National Union Workers who are not included in the list of 25 employees covered by the court order, police would also need to remove wooden pallets to block the warehouse entrance. And they have to do it fast because the court order is only for 48 hours.

Christopher Whitefield, Toll spokesman, said that even if the court order named only 25 individuals, common law principle makes it illegal for anyone to prevent access to the plant whether they are covered or not by the court ruling.

He claims one-third of the workers want to return to their jobs but were being prevented by the union and the blockade.

Tim Kennedy, Victoria state secretary of the NUW, insisted that the court order is limited to the 25 union members and the union, not the remaining 575 other Coles workers.

NUW complied with the other court ruling to advise its members by 9 a.m. of Tuesday through email, Twitter and Facebook that members must not prevent trucks from leaving or entering the warehouse.

The union and Toll are set to return to the court at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday to discuss the prohibition order which is valid only until 4:30 p.m.

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