Aged care and disability workers at Wangaratta Council are not about to give up on their jobs without a fight.
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Chief executive Brendan McGrath announced last week he was considering scrapping packaged care that provides specialist services such as podiatry or home improvements for those in need.
The services could be taken up by other health care providers.
Most of the 23 Wangaratta workers at risk of losing their jobs met with the Australian Services Union on Tuesday.
ASU Wangaratta organiser Emma Bagg said the staff, all women of varying ages, still believed the council was the best home for the service.
The group has formed a committee to develop a proposal for council they hope can save the service and keep it sustainable.
“Many are feeling (the council) has already made their decision, even though they say they haven’t,” Ms Bagg said.
“We’ve been asking council since March to provide us with a response and now it’s three weeks before Christmas.”
She said the union would ask for the mid-January deadline on council’s decision to be extended as many of the workers would be away for Christmas holidays.
Workers were also concerned for their clients as other health services, that were not accountable to the community, would not have the same high standards.
They told the union they heard talk of others planning to move into their offices.
A proposal to save the service will be officially presented to the council in writing.
“If they don’t genuinely consider them, that’s when the fight will begin and the gloves will be off,” Ms Bagg said.
Mr McGrath said the council was waiting for a response from staff and assured them it would be seriously considered.
“That’s really the purpose of the consultation process,” he said.
The chief executive would not rule out extending the January deadline.
“We said we wouldn’t be unreasonable about that,” Mr McGrath said.
“We’re mindful that we don’t want this (consultation) to drag on forever.”
