The motion, carried at a meeting held at Dorevitch's Ballarat Laboratory, resolved to take industrial action for an indefinite period or until a reasonable offer regarding salaries is received.

The dispute, which has been running across the state since September, involves members of the Medical Science Association of Victoria.

The MSAV members are disappointed with the way management of Dorevitch Pathology has approached negotiations of a new enterprise bargaining agreement covering its scientists.

Attending the meeting from the MSAV was industrial officer Peter Gioulekas.

"Dorevitch has taken the position where they don't want to negotiate with the union," Mr Gioulekas said.

"They are reacting in an antiquated way, latching on to the remnants of the Howard Government's Work Choices."

According to the MSAV the proposal put forward by Dorevitch management is inadequate and the company has been responsible for delaying tactics.

Mr Gioulekas said the pay deal offered would leave the wages of scientists below market rates and would fall even further behind when agreements in the public sector are renegotiated in 2011 and 2012.

He said Dorevitch was reluctant to talk to the union and was still refraining from doing a combined EBA.

With members eager to start taking industrial action sooner rather than later, there were plans for strike action in the coming weeks if there was no adequate response from Dorevitch, Mr Gioulekas said.