Vic: Hospital scientists threaten state-wide strikes

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2008
Vic: Hospital scientists threaten state-wide strikes

MELBOURNE, Feb 10 AAP - Medical scientists at the centre of continuing industrial action
are threatening strikes at hospitals across Victoria if wage talks continue to drag on.

Rolling 24-hour stoppages are expected tomorrow at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Western
Hospital Footscray, Sunshine Hospital, Williamstown Hospital, Melbourne Extended Care
and North West Mental Health.

The industrial action - spearheaded by the Medical Scientists' Association of Victoria
(MSAV) - is over a dispute with the state government over a new pay deal.

Association secretary Rosemary Kelly said the government had yet to make a formal wages
offer, despite continued talks at the industrial relations commission last week.

"Their negotiating position fails to give our members increases equivalent to nurses,
and they expect our members to accept a later date for any increase to come into effect,"

Dr Kelly said.

"The government has dug its heels in and turned its back on patients in Victoria's hospitals.

"It's demonstrated that it cares little about hospital waiting lists or the standard
of care provided to patients."

The union - which represents specialists such as pathology scientists, neuroscientists,
respiratory scientists, sleep scientists, dietitians and psychologists - is seeking the
same wages agreement won by Victorian nurses last year.

After drawn-out negotiations and industrial action, the nurses accepted a pay deal
above the Victorian government's uniform 3.25 per cent a year for three years.

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KEYWORD: SCIENTISTS

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