Staff at a Tasmanian aged care facility have taken industrial action over a pay offer they say is so low it amounts to just 95 cents an hour on average.
The Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF) branch on Wednesday supported members at Devonport’s Baptcare Karingal in their bid for a “fair and reasonable” enterprise agreement.
Secretary Emily Shepherd said despite ongoing negotiations and previous industrial action, Baptcare has only made a “disrespectful” offer that “risks losing long standing employees”.
“It is extremely concerning that Baptcare has failed to recognise their long serving staff and that it is their passion for aged care and their residents that keep them at Baptcare, because they care passionately about their residents,” she said.
“Yet, this passion doesn’t pay the bills.”
The union was also critical of Baptcare for lodging a dispute in the Fair Work Commission last week, claiming that members who were distributing campaign badges and flyers in their own time at their workplace to their colleagues were taking unprotected industrial action.
“The Deputy Commissioner noted that these employees could do whatever they wanted in their own time,” Shepherd said.
“Yet, rather than recognise these members were doing this in their own time … as they have such regard for their residents, Baptcare have now launched disciplinary action.”
A Baptcare spokesperson said its offer was generous and the industrial action would not disrupt services.
They said no disciplinary action had been taken against staff.
