By CASEY NEILL
STRIKE action at the Springvale and Bangholme cemeteries is closer to a resolution but “not over yet”.
The Australian Workers Union (AWU) and Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) met on 4 September to try and resolve a pay and conditions dispute that has prompted rolling stoppages at Springvale Botanical Cemetery and Bunurong Memorial Park since 16 August.
“We had a pretty productive session on Wednesday,” AWU Victorian secretary Ben Davis said.
“There were three big issues outstanding. I think we’ve got one of them sorted and possibly a second.”
Mr Davis said the issue should be resolved in the next week or two, with another meeting scheduled for 18 September.
He said the action was not affecting funerals, despite claims from SMCT CEO Jonathon Tribe that families were waiting up to 10 days to bury loved ones instead of three to five.
