However, the parties are agreed that the period should be extended, given the incidence of public holidays during the 21 day period, and the Commission is likely to do so.

As advised, if matters are not settled by the end of the negotiating period, the dispute will go to a Full Bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission for arbitration, and a Determination. The Determination will then effectively replace the award and current EBA and will set out your terms and conditions of employment.

There has been some progress in negotiations to date. As private negotiations in the Commission are confidential, we cannot reveal the current state of play.

Should we reach an agreement with (or receive offers from) the DHS and VHIA which the EBA Committee is prepared to recommend to members, then meetings will be convened immediately to seek members’ endorsement.

EPWORTH

Members may recall that negotiations with the Epworth broke down when Epworth offered our psychologist, dietitian and sleep scientist members a salary increase over 4 years of 13.5% - which is 2% less than offered to nurses.

We are yet to hear any credible reason why our members are worth a lesser increase than nurses.

The nurses’ offer of up to 15.5% salary increase was accepted by nurses, following the rejection by them of an earlier offer of a lesser amount. Epworth has indicated that it wants to go back into conciliation with us in the AIRC. However, no approach has been made to us about further negotiations.

Meanwhile, this week we applied to the AIRC for secret ballot orders allowing the AEC to ballot our Epworth members re the taking of protected industrial action.

The AIRC today granted that application for a ballot of union members in the face of fierce opposition from the Epworth Foundation. Transcript of the hearing will be available on our website after Easter.

The roll of Epworth voters will close on 26 March 2008 – Epworth members should call the AEC Tuesday or Wednesday to confirm whether they are on the roll.

Ballot papers will be sent to home addresses from 31^st March and the ballot will close 10:00am on Friday 11 April 2008.

MELBOURNE IVF

In marked contrast the attitude of management and their advisors at Epworth, MIVF and their advisors have negotiated in good faith, and have been prepared to bargain with the MSAV and members over the renewal of the agreement in a principled way. A meeting was held with MIVF yesterday, and members are considering a package of improvements in conditions and improvement of conditions.

RADIATION ONCOLOGY VICTORIA, CABRINI, VAUCLUSE & HEALTHSCOPE Negotiations will commence for the renegotiation of these agreements after Easter.

DOREVITCH EBA Negotiations were due to resume next week, but have been deferred again. We understand that Primary Health, which has taken over Symbion, is currently undertaking due diligence at Dorevitch.

On 18 March 2008 Primary Health sought a halt in trading in its shares. More information can be obtained from the ASX website

http://www.asx.com.au/asx/statistics/showAnnouncementPDF.do?idsID=00824580