145 toilet paper factory workers who haven't been paid for weeks are now facing a pricey legal threat.
Manufacturing company Essity has locked workers out at its Kawerau mill, and is now suing them and their union - for $500,000 dollars in damages.
The company says it has no comment to make.
The workplace relations minister Michael Wood told RNZ's Political editor Jane Patterson he hoped the matter could be resolved.
One of the locked-out workers Bill George spoke to Charlotte Cook.
