A CAMPAIGN to get better wages and conditions for mental health workers continued yesterday, with union members holding staggered stopwork meetings in Warrnambool.
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Three staff at the Mind Australia office, along with others in Bendigo, took part in the action co-ordinated by the Australian Services Union.
According to union assistant secretary Lisa Darmanin, talks were at a stalemate after almost 12 months of negotiations on an updated enterprise bargaining agreement.
Another meeting with Mind Australia executives is expected to take place in a fortnight.
She said the main sticking points were implementation of an equal remuneration order, rosters and shift allowances.
“The equal pay case decision last year was for a 45 per cent increase over eight years, but Mind Australia is refusing to guarantee it will pass on the full amount for which it was given funding,” Ms Darmanin told The Standard.
“They say they want to maintain their competitiveness in the market.
“It is a last resort for our Warrnambool members to take industrial action.
“They have tried to minimise the effect on clients.”
