The protest outside the Carinya on Bristol facility on Saturday saw around 30 workers, including those who weren’t even on shift on the day, gather to discuss their next move, speak to the media and meet Senator Louise Pratt who came to the picket line to show her support.
The members voted in favour of taking more industrial action and are beginning a series of rolling strikes on Thursday, January 20, at 7am.
Members’ calls for a meeting with management at the aged care facility since the first strike have so far been ignored.
Dave Kelly, secretary of the LHMU, said: “These members have had to endure six months of unco-operative behaviour from management in negotiations so it’s no surprise they have been disregarded yet again.
“All these workers are asking for is a fairer pay and conditions deal which will see them on similar pay levels to other aged care workers in the industry. They also want a week’s annual leave back so they are on a par with the rest of the industry.
“Carinya of Bicton will then find it easier to hold on to experienced and highly-skilled care workers meaning they get a better aged care facility and the residents experience the highest possible levels of care.
“But Carinya are currently going the right way about losing good staff at a rate of knots. They cannot seriously expect their most experienced and skilled workers to accept a pay rise which amounts to just 26c by 2013?

“We want to work with aged care providers across the industry to try and improve wages and issues like resident to carer ratios. But if employers are going to behave like Carinya and ignore their workers, we’re not going to get anywhere.
“We would ask that they at least meet with our members to discuss the issues they face rather than stonewalling them. If they continue down this path the members will be forced into taking more strike action.”

Currently around 50% of staff on every shift at the facility are from an agency.
Negotiations have been fraught with difficulties with management refusing to allow union delegates to be at the meetings. Delegates had to fight this at Fair Work Australia and won an order which entitled them to be there.
Members are looking to get a minimum of $1 per hour pay increase every year so that they are on a par with aged care workers at Braemar Aged Care. This is the closest nursing home to Carinya and is of comparable size. Many of the members at Carinya are on $18.66 per hour. At the highest level they are earning $20.77. Wages for workers at Amana Living aged care facilities are at $20.19 for entry level aged care workers.
They also want their annual leave restored to six and seven weeks and casual loading to remain at 20% for weekend shifts.