The results of the secret ballot on industrial action were declared by the Australian Electoral Commission on 16/1/08. The outcome sends a resounding message to the government, VHIA and DHS with members overwhelmingly supporting industrial action to protect wages, career structures and conditions.

The results are on the website Public Sector Ballot Results 16 January 2008 The results are very convincing given that the ballot was conducted during a holiday period when many members would be away from home. Where the normal return rate in union elections averages about 30%, in this ballot an average of 67% of members cast a vote at the eight sites balloted.

The percentage in favour of industrial action was as follows:

                       
This is a strong condemnation of the Brumby Government’s bully boy tactics. A meeting of our enterprise bargaining negotiating committee representatives will be called next week to plan the next steps in our campaign. We will convene meetings of members at all these sites to discuss when the industrial action is to commence. Feedback from members is that they prefer to walk off the job rather than impose work bans.