Whilst I don't work at Bankstown any more, I know what it is like to work out there.
In 2008, Bankstown was the busiest aerodrome in Australia. The number of Controllers there has reduced due to staff movements across the country and there is at least 1 new ATC training there and about 2 waiting to move to another Tower location but can't be released.
The reason the circuit is closed for a couple of hours is because the old roster of 6 controllers a day has had to be reduced to 5. To run at full capacity, there needs to be 3 controllers in the cab: A Ground/Coordinator, and Tower 1 and 2. When it is quieter, the two tower positions are combined, but once the number in the circuit gets over 4 (as a maximum) the picture gets too complex and the frequency gets too congested.
If the circuit is not closed, then no one gets breaks as the circuit gets is generally around 6-8 at most times now. It is as simple as that. No industrial action (as Aminta stated). In fact it is the compete opposite.
If you think about it, management control how many staff in a certain location and how the roster is run and the issuing of NOTAMs. Why would management be assisting line Controllers as a precursor to industrial action?
I feel for the pilots and schools at Bankstown, but after spending two years in the tower there, trust me: Controllers need breaks. And if there is not enough staff, then they can't run with the circuit open all day.
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