Veterinary nurses have launched a last-ditch bid to stop an animal hospital in Melbourne's southwest from closing.
The nurses from U-Vet Animal Hospital at Werribee have lodged a Fair Work Commission application over claims the University of Melbourne is trying to "ram through" the hospital's closure.
It was initially thought the university planned to close the hospital on December 19, but staff believe this has been moved up to Monday at 12pm.
Staff were told to finish by 11.30am on Monday to attend an announcement about U-Vet at 12pm.
The university says it intends to inform staff on Monday of its final plan for the animal hospital, rejecting claims it has not properly consulted with them.
"The University has genuinely engaged in consultation with our staff on the planned closure of U-Vet while satisfying the obligations under our enterprise agreement," a spokesperson said on Sunday.
"The University has received feedback from staff during the consultation period and this has informed the final change plan which is due to be communicated to our staff tomorrow."
The university has invited U-Vet staff to a meeting on Monday to discuss the final outcome of the consultation process.
In internal communication in November, it cited a reduced case load, restricted opening hours because of a lack of staff and a significant fall in revenue as among reasons for the hospital's proposed closure.
At the time, the university said it would tell staff about a final plan for the animal hospital on December 19.
The nurses claim the university is trying to shut the animal hospital's doors with "as little scrutiny as possible", and they want the Fair Work Commission to deal with their dispute.
"Disgracefully, the University of Melbourne is attempting to ram through the closure of our valued animal hospital with nothing but tokenistic consultation of the staff who'll lose their jobs and their livelihoods," U-Vet veterinary nurse Taylor Reader said.
"The University of Melbourne has treated us like we're nothing and has brought forward the animal hospital's closure in a deeply cynical effort to stop staff from taking action in the Fair Work Commission to stop it."
The university's decision to bring the closure forward amounted to one of its "most shameful chapters", with workers' offers of assistance and co-operation "met with silence", Ms Reader said.
The university was hell-bent on closing U-Vet against the wishes of the staff, the community, and Victoria's best interests, she claimed.
"We ask the federal government to help us keep this vital institution open for our community and for the future of the veterinarian sector in Victoria," Ms Taylor said.
Employment Minister Ben Carroll wanted to see the university work with staff and students to reach an amicable outcome.
The animal hospital was a world-class institution that has been important to the university and trained thousands of veterinary staff for many years, he said.
"I am hoping through this Fair Work process that an amicable outcome can be reached," Mr Carroll said.
U-Vet is the state's only teaching hospital where students can gain hands-on experience, the nurses said.
The hospital's closure would see more than 100 veterinary staff lose their jobs.
