Staff at Dorevitch Pathology and Gippsland Pathology have over the course of the past few months overwhelmingly rejected management’s attempts to get approval for a series of non-union ‘agreements’. Some agreements had to be withdrawn after the vote because they failed to comply with the requirements of the Fair Work Act.

Management attempted a strategy of ‘divide and conquer’ under which separate ‘agreements’ were put out to scientist, technicians, support staff, couriers and collectors. All were finally voted down.

In these ‘agreements’ Dorevitch management sought to slash terms and conditions of employment, including personal sick leave & bereavement leave, cut the rights of part-time staff, cut LSL, reduce paid maternity leave, reduce on-call entitlements and take away the right of employees to have disputes arbitrated. All in exchange for lower salaries than elsewhere.

The Union is now seeking to meet with management in order to negotiate a single agreement which maintains terms and conditions of employment, and which contains rates of pay for scientists and others which match the market.