The services union says the ball is in Ballarat City Council’s court, after 59 per cent of affected members voted down a new enterprise agreement.
Speaking last week, Deputy Branch Secretary for the union, Tash Wark, said the council’s offer was ‘substandard’ in terms of a pay offer.
Union members at the council will now vote to take industrial action through a new ballot.
Ms. Wark says they hope council comes back with a better offer.
“We think they know what the key issues are, we’ve communicated them really clearly and they’ve got an opportunity now to rectify that while the protected action ballot takes place,” she said.
A spokesperson for the City of Ballarat said they look forward to recommencing the bargaining process in the coming weeks.
They said they hope to reach an agreement that balances the cost-of-living pressures of employees and the long-term financial sustainability of council.
