Members employed by Symbion Pathology Limited - either at Dorevitch Pathology or Gippsland Pathology – have been on strike for a week now. In response striking scientists and technicians have been locked out by management until Thursday at 2200 hours.

Striking members have been rallying at Frankston Hospital, Warringal Private Hospital and Beleura Private Hospital and at the Latrobe Collection Centre, where there has been a great response from the public. Messages of support are also coming in from scientists interstate.

Members are determined to continue to fight for just wages and conditions, and will be taking further industrial action on Monday 14 December 2009. Congratulations to these MSAV members who are prepared to stand up strong and proud.

Meanwhile management has failed to explain why Symbion alone among the big private providers cannot afford to pay fair wages, or why they want to cut maternity leave and other conditions of employment.

Remember Tracey in the Your Rights at Work Advertisement last elections? Tracey was the single parent that the boss would call and demand she come to work at all hours.

Symbion want to turn part-time scientists into workers who can be called in at any time. Our award currently mandates that the hours of work of part-time workers must be agreed in writing, including the days and starting and finishing times. Once agreed, these arrangements can only be changed by mutual agreement.

Symbion want to take away these protections from part-time scientists.

Scientists and technicians are also extremely concerned that following cuts to staffing, inordinate pressure is being put on staff to get results out, with pressure on staff to cut corners.

We have been told some very disturbing stories about conditions in the laboratories.

We know that at the moment untrained laboratory assistants are being required to do scientific or technical work in what used to be a high quality, high paying pathology service.