Peabody has abandoned its third lockout of workers at the Wambo Coal Handling and Preparation Plant, near Singleton, after the Mining and Energy Union launched urgent Fair Work Commission proceedings challenging the move. The union challenged the lockout on the basis that Peabody issued the notice almost two weeks after the last instance of employee industrial action, with no industrial action occurring at the time the notice was issued. Mining and Energy Union Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Robin Williams said the outcome exposed a company more focused on beating workers than bargaining with them. “Every time Peabody has had a choice between improving its offer or locking workers out again, it has chosen the lockout.” “Peabody thought another lockout would pressure workers into accepting less.