More than 60 workers, union lobbyists and supporters rallied outside the historic building from 8am and like last week’s rally, garbage trucks, utes, and other council vehicles lined Sturt Street in a show of support.

But to change things up, rally organisers decided to take their protests away from the drizzling rain and into Town Hall itself.

With City of Ballarat chief executive Anthony Schinck firmly in his sights, union organiser David Beckley posed a question to his troops as rain started to fall.

For 15 minutes, the noise coming from Town Hall resembled that of a football match with dozens of angry workers repeatedly screaming “don’t Schinck our wages” and “4 per cent or $50”.

The industrial action sprung out of the City of Ballarat’s proposed enterprise bargaining agreement, which is currently before a vote of council staff.

Council is offering workers, a 3.6 per cent or $32 per week rise, but union members say they won’t accept anything less than 4 per cent or $50 per week.

Mr Schinck said during negotiations, council offered all workers a 4 per cent increase, which was rejected.

“It was rejected because they wanted 4 per cent or $50 – the problem is $50 per week can mean a completely different increase for people with different pay levels,” he told The Courier last week.

Mr Schinck said increasing the offer to appease demands would blow the cost out to $1 million over budget.

“There’s only a few ways we can find that extra money – we can provide less services, reduce staff numbers or put up rates.”

Mr Beckley said he believed council could come up with the cash without cutting jobs or services.

The Australian Nurses Federation have urged council’s homecare workers and nurses to vote “no” to the EBA. Victorian secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick also said council employees had every right to be cynical about the timing of the Easter ballot.