At the EBA meeting with Symbion Pathology management on 8 October 2008 it was agreed that further meetings to negotiate the new agreement would be held on a weekly basis, with the aim of completing the agreement before Christmas 2008. Instead, Symbion pathology cancelled the next scheduled meeting, and at the meeting on Wednesday 22 October 2008 announced that there would be no wage increases until July 2009.

This is a highly provocative about face. As a consequence, we will be holding meetings of members at Dorevitch and Gippsland Pathology over the next 2 weeks to discuss members’ responses and to map out a course of action.

Clearly this may require a ballot for protected industrial action. Members should ensure that their current contact details including postal address is up to date, as the ballot will be conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission. Given that only union members can legally take industrial action, now is the time for remaining non-members to join the MSAV.