will not be paid for failing to show up for work.

And it has been revealed that the cause of the dispute will not be referred to arbitration, as claimed by Labour Minister Paula Cox.

The wildcat walkout took place on the day that organised strike action by other Works and Engineering Department staff was expected.

A Ministry spokesman said the complaints and grievances of the recycling plant staff are a completely separate issue from trash collection and construction issues that have been referred to arbitration.

The spokesman pointed out the timing of the impromptu sick-out may mislead the public into believing it was part of the same planned strike action by trash collectors and construction workers.

"They are not involved in the 21-day strike notice,'' the spokesman reiterated, adding the Ministry would not pay workers for time that they have been "unofficially off work''.

GOVERNMENT GVT