BRIMBANK child protection workers are considering industrial action in a bid to improve their pay and conditions.
Employees at Sunshine’sSalvation Army Westcare areexpected to go on strike after Christmas, following failed negotiationsfor an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.
Westcare workers claim they are among the lowest paid in the social and community sector and are seeking a five per cent pay rise.
A staff member who did not wish to be named told Star the workers had been trying to negotiate the collective agreement since 2008, but their requests had fallen on deaf ears.
“We’ve been seeking changes in conditions and wages for a long time but our requests just seem to go out into the abyss,” he said.
“It’s extremely challenging work, yet it’s very poorly paid and we’re miles behind our DHS counterparts.
“We keep watching nurses, teachers and police get pay rises, but we always seem to be the ones who miss out.”
Australian Services Union (ASU) spokesman Leon Wiegard said three out of five meetings scheduled between the Salvation Army and staff had been cancelled by management since August.
“ASU members at Westcare have had enough,” Mr Wiegard said.
“They have been ignored for too long by the faceless command at the Salvation Army.
“Management need to start treating their hard-working staff with more respect and start taking these negotiations seriously.”
The Victorian Electoral Commission is taking a postal ballot of ASU members to vote on industrial action. The results are expected in January.
The Westcare worker said staff did not want to go on strike – but could be left with little alternative.
“Obviously, it’s not something we want to do because we realisehow important our services are, but if management continue to act like this we will have little alternative,” he said.
