VIC: A 24 hour disability worker strike averted

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-1999
VIC: A 24 hour disability worker strike averted

MELBOURNE, Aug 12 AAP - A planned 24-hour strike today by thousands of disability workers
has been called off, their union said.

The Health and Community Services Union warned earlier this week the strike would include
3,000 nurses and direct care workers in government-run disability services.

Union state secretary Kaye Darveniza said the strike was necessary because the state
government was refusing to give any ground in restoring the staffing hours ripped out of
disability services by the Kennett government.

Today Ms Darveniza said she welcomed the Industrial Relations Commission's decision to end
the bargaining period with the state government, forcing the parties into arbitration and
conciliation.

"We've been in negotiations for more than two months now with the government and we have
suggested on many occasions that we take this matter to arbitration and the government has
always refused," Mr Darveniza told ABC Radio.

She said workers were relieved to have today's strike cancelled and to have the issue put
before the commission.

AAP st/er/ah/br

KEYWORD: DISABILITY VIC (CARRIED EARLIER)

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