CSIRO staff protested outside the office of Lalor MP Joanne Ryan last Thursday as they campaigned to defend their working conditions, rights and pay.
CSIRO staff association secretary Sam Popovski said staff had also experienced dramatic funding cuts, critical research had been abandoned, and there had been a 20 per cent cut to the workforce over a two-year period, due to significant reductions in federal government support.
Mr Popovski said the offer currently on the table from CSIRO management slashed the current enterprise agreement drastically, triggering a nationwide protest.
Ms Ryan said she supported the work undertaken by researchers, and they deserved recognition and fairer pay and conditions.
“If Malcolm Turnbull is happy to enthusiastically embrace innovation, he should also look after those researchers who are at the forefront of innovation, rather than disrupting their livelihood.”
Ms Ryan cited the invention of the Hendra virus vaccine for horses, wifi and the development of extended- wear contact lenses as just some of the CSIRO’s notable achievements.
