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THE Australian Services Union says it will attend this week's Bendigo Council meeting to vocalise its concerns ahead of a vote on a proposal to withdraw from Home and Community Care services.
Bendigo Council made a provisional decision to withdraw providing HACC services in February and will reach a decision at Wednesday's council meeting.
The union, which is concerned about the potential loss of about 160 HACC staff jobs and a drop in the quality of care should council outsource the service, has been in talks with the City of Greater Bendigo during the consultation period.
ASU branch co-ordinator Billy King said the union and HACC staff at council had put forward a proposal highlighting cost-saving measures should the council-run program continue.
"We believe given savings and efficiencies achieved by staff and ASU members, that in conjunction with savings council management have put forward as well, this should enable the service to continue until current funding ceases in 2018," he said.
"We believe there will be further efficiencies made if we were given further opportunity to continue."
Asked about the mood among members leading up to council's vote on the matter, Mr King said staff were "hopeful but not confident".
He warned of a "ripple effect" should council vote to contract out the service.
"Staff are also residents of Greater Bendigo, it has a ripple effect," he said.
"There is absolutely no doubt the Bendigo region will suffer if a quality and valued service is withdrawn."
Mr King said the union and its members would be at the council meeting to "again voice our opinion to ensure these services remain council-run".
"People's livelihoods are on the line, so we urge councillors to acknowledge the crippling effects outsourcing will have on the community," he said.
"We call on councillors to vote in favour of keeping the Home and Community Care program in-house in order to maintain the current quality standards clients have access to, while underpinning the employment of hard-working staff in the sector."
