United Voice

Louise Tarrant, LHMU National Secretary, says "Today's application by LHMU aged care members is a milestone in working Australians' battle for a fair deal at work.

"The low paid bargaining stream is unique in the developed world. It gives low paid workers the right to apply to an independent arbiter, Fair Work Australia, to facilitate bargaining with multiple employers across their sector.

"Low paid bargaining was set up because many low paid workers, usually in areas dominated by women, have pay and working conditions that fall far short of community standards. Aged care is typical: workers have had difficulty accessing collective bargaining and decisions about wages are significantly controlled by third parties.

"This is a good day for low paid Australians. Unless Tony Abbott gets a chance to dig it up again, this application could be the final nail in the WorkChoices coffin.

Overworked and underpaid in a failing system

"Aged care workers are doing it tough. Under the unrealistic modern award their pay rates range from just $15.92 per hour for support staff to $18.68 per hour for qualified supervisors. Dedicated staff are leaving because they can't afford to stay.

"Aged care is labour intensive but labour shortages are chronic. Staff face constant stress, physically and emotionally, struggling to do their jobs properly, not just the bare minimum and it's getting worse. Meanwhile, our population continues to age: by 2056 people 65 or over will double to 23%-25% compared to 13% in 2007.

"Key claims in the negotiations will go a long way to creating better jobs and the quality care residents deserve:

• pay increases so aged care workers have parity with male dominated industries where they hold equivalent positions. Research indicates this will mean increases of between $8 and $10 per hour
• fair workloads
• minimum staff to resident ratios
• government funding dedicated to wages

"Fair Work Australia can force employers to bargain but it shouldn't come to that. It's in everyone's interest to fix the deepening crisis in this failing sector.

"Today's application is part of members' Fair Share for Aged Care campaign. Later this week in meetings across the country members will plan the next step in the campaign.

"Finally and importantly, measures to retain staff mjust be a priority for the Government in Tuesday's budget," says Louise Tarrant.

Public needs to know

"People are dying of loneliness in aged care. Our workloads are so high. We just don't have enough time for them," says Kerri Anderson, LHMU aged care member.

"In aged care we're doing something for people who have spent their whole lives contributing. They've paid their dues, now it's time for us to pay them back.

"There's more to aged care than doctors and nurses.

"We get a lot of loving and respect from the residents but not from the industry. We are constantly reminded that we're at the bottom of the food chain; that we're unskilled. There's no room for promotion but we're the cogs that keep the system going. It's hard to stick it out.

"The biggest problem is staffing levels. More staff would have a positive ongoing effect for aged care workers and for the residents.

"Providers rely on government funding so we have to get the government to loosen the purse strings. To do that the public needs to know what's going on," says Kerri Anderson.

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Photos

Top left: Kerri Anderson at Fair Work Australia after lodging the historic low paid bargaining application.

Right: LHMU National Secretary Louise Tarrant with Kerri Anderson at Fair Work Australia