Union members at the Thales Benalla and Mulwalla sites in Victoria will meet management today in attempt to reach a union collective agreement after six months of negotiations.

400 workers at the sites are concerned that the company wants to make it more difficult for employees who are off work with long-term illness or injury to gain access to paid sick leave entitlements.

The workers also want to ensure that contractors or labour hire personnel undertaking work normally carried out by Thales employees receive employment conditions that are no less favorable than the employment conditions that apply to Thales employees. This is an important provision for the employment security of Thales employees.

With significant capital investments at the Mulwala site, an increase in shift work will improve productivity but will also cause significant disturbance to family life, and workers are seeking to increase afternoon and night shift penalty rates as fair compensation.

If the company does not take on board workers’ concerns, members have voted to begin industrial action on Thursday including stopping work for 24 hours, a ban on overtime and call backs commencing on Friday, and potentially stopping work for 4 hours on Tuesday, 30 March.

Organiser Damian King said the members are determined to reach an agreement that recognizes their hard work.

"Union members are determined to achieve an Agreement that enhances employment security and that fully recognizes the major contribution employees make to Thales operations at Benalla and Mulwala," he said.