United Voice

The workers have also secured fairer union agreements for themselves which will see their wages and conditions improve.
At UCH, members have been campaigning for around five months to improve standards, both for them and for the people they care for.
Despite being knocked back and ignored by management, the workers would not give up and so last week, they fronted up at the organisation’s AGM to tell those attending their view of working at UCH. The workers were not allowed in but it sent a strong message to UCH CEO Vaughan Harding that the issue could not be ignored any more.
He has since signed up to become a Fair Share for Aged Care employer and will be working closely with aged care workers to campaign for solutions to problems in the industry.

These include the poor wages in the sector, unsustainable patient-carer ratios and inadequate training.
The workers also negotiated a new union agreement which provides an excellent platform for improvements to wages and conditions at UCH if more workers become union members.
The agreement will see them earning $20.45 ph by 2012, making them the second best paid for their level in the industry in WA.
At Regis, management tried to push through a non union agreement of just 8.75% pay rise over four years but members in WA refused to be dictated to and voted this down.
They demanded bargaining and eventually negotiated an 11.75% increase over three years, which is significantly higher than what was originally offered. The majority of staff will be on more than $20 ph by the end of 2012.
Crucially, they also persuaded Regis to sign up to Fair Share for Aged Care campaign.
Kelly Shay, assistant secretary of the LHMU said: “These different negotiations show why we need the Fair Share for Aged Care Campaign. Bargaining certainly works but not enough – we all need to work together to improve wages and conditions in aged care significantly.
“We are hoping that UCH and Regis signing up to the campaign will persuade other aged care employers in WA to join our campaign.
“These employers are now committed to working with us to finding solutions to the crisis in aged care. This means improving wages so that experienced aged care workers remain in the industry, better training so that standards can be enhanced and establishing fairer staff to resident ratios.
“With an aging population, these changes are essential to ensure the aged care industry gives both workers and residents what they deserve.”