October 7 was an historic day when members from the major Dorevitch laboratories in Victoria – Heidelberg, Frankston, Ballarat and others went on strike for 24 hours in protest at the Company’s refusal to bargain in good faith for a new agreement. Members at Dorevitch have had no wage increases since 2007. A well-attended rally was held outside the laboratory in Heidelberg, attended by Nibbles the monkey who proclaimed that eternal truth that if you feed them peanuts you get monkeys! The rally marched down Heidelberg Rd, to the shopping centre in Burgundy St. where speeches were made and leaflets handed out to shoppers. Many greetings and warm wishes were received from the local community.

 

Members have attracted very positive media coverage so far from this campaign, with items run in the ABC's television, radio and ">WIN television, in I Prime's television and online bulletins, the Ballarat Courier, the Heidelberg Leader, the Border Mail, the Mornington Peninsula Mail, and a number of other news sources.

 

The Company, which has stalled and frustrated all our attempts to get negotiations going, seemed to have a change of heart when it realised how angry and determined members are. An offer to meet was received on the afternoon of the strike! We trust that it now intends to comply with its obligations under the Act to bargain in good faith. If this does not occur members have resolved to continue our campaign of industrial action.