In August of 2024 we began negotiating an enterprise agreement with our employer motivated by the our shared values of equity, increasing work demands, a steep rise in the cost of living, and stagnating wages that we feel do not reflect the true value of our work.

In that time we have come to in-principle agreements on a few non-financial claims, however our employer - funded by private equity group LVP - have chosen not to acknowledge the claims most important to us.

We are struggling to afford rent payments, basic healthcare costs, and even the cost of bringing lunch into work some days, so we have tabled claims we think are most critical to a fairer and more equitable workplace:

A meaningful wage increase to reconcile years of wage stagnation exaggerated by rising living costs, and a commitment to future increases that at a bare minimum keep up with inflation over a 2 year agreement.

Paid cultural leave for first nations staff so that they can engage in important cultural practices without sacrificing other leave entitlements, and for expanded family and kinship definitions that respects diverse family structures.

Paid gender affirmation leave to keep transgender and gender diverse people from having to choose between a reliable income, or accessing costly life saving treatments.

These claims represent the needs of the communities we inhabit, our friends, family, and loved ones. They represent the values we firmly believe would create security for our marginalized co-workers, and offer a fair income by means of a wage that is not outpaced by the increasing cost of living in Naarm.

We are asking you, our local community, to help us utilize our legal right to industrial action and show our employer just how critical these claims are for us, and future workers.

The funds will provide vital income for our team of 9 (four Full-Time staff, and five casual staff working 2 days per week each) to undertake an indefinite work stoppage until we can continue productive negotiations with our employer.

We will split the funds raised proportionally amongst the team based on each of our normal hours worked such that each of us will continue to have a steady income.

The more we can raise, the longer we can stay on strike for.

We have all agreed that any funds remaining once action concludes will be split evenly and donated to charities supporting First Nations, and Transgender communities.

This means the faster we can reach a fair agreement the more money can be diverted to important community organisations!

We will be incredibly grateful for any amount raised, even if it's just a few dollars! Help us make our workplace the fairest it can be, for everyone ❤️