We met with the DHS and VHIA on Monday this week and are no closer to a reasonable offer. The public sector agreements expire on Sunday 30 September 2007 – and the government, through the Department of Human Services, refuses to agree to the date of the next increase being 1 October 2007. Any delays in the negotiations can only benefit the government – the more they delay, the more money they save.

The wages ‘offer’ is 3.25% per annum – which is well behind recent pay increases in the other States and in areas of the private sector.

We have a meeting with the DHS and VHIA on Monday 1 October 2007 at which we expect to receive the government’s response to the other parts of our log of claims. We will be holding members’ meetings to discuss our response.