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HORSHAM disability workers and union members have stopped work over a pay and conditions dispute with service provider E.W. Tipping Foundation and Vista. The workers, as members of the Health and Community Services Union, took the action over a new workplace agreement that they believe would prioritise casual employees over permanent ones. Union senior organiser Asha Riehl said the stop work action on Thursday morning was a protected industrial action. The action included standing with union flags and signs on Horsham’s A8 thoroughfare. “For the last two years we have been negotiating after the previous Enterprise Bargaining Agreement expired, we have been to the Fair Work Commission to try to nut it out,” she said. “We are taking a stand to send a strong message to E.W. Tipping and Vista.” “E.W. Tipping want pay rates at minimum, their proposal has limited career progression and the key issue is shifts that could be just one hour or less.” E.W. Tipping chief executive Graeme Kelly said the union’s claims were not correct and the foundation had offered more than one hour minimum. “We are negotiating with the union on what is a feasible minimum amount,” he said. “We have not reached a conclusion but we continue to negotiate in good faith. “We’d encourage the union to get back to the Fair Work Commission, there’s a hearing in a few weeks. Their action is premature but we respect their right to have a voice.” Horsham resident and disability services client Troy Young attended the demonstration. He said he had been living in housing for people with a disability for 15 years and wanted to show support for the workers who supported him. “We have people who come in to work from Natimuk,” he said. “If they only get a one-hour shift, that won’t even be petrol money.” “It’s just not fair. They’ve got to live, they’ve got to buy food.” Ms Riehl said casual employees would get minimum shift lengths of three hours but not permanent staff. Ms Riehl said long-term employees would be better for E.W. Tipping’s clients. “People with a disability need to have a stable workforce to provide services to them,” she said. “E.W. Tipping are looking for more flexibility in the workforce for the roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. “We don’t think they will have to give up flexibility under our terms.” Mr Kelly said the organisation needed to make changes ahead of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the foundation’s offer included a new role for career progression. “Under the insurance scheme, the client uses it to pay for services,” he said. “The higher the minimum pay rates and shifts, the higher the cost will be for the client to pay.”

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