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Summer 2005

Aged Care Ponders a Hard Future

HACSU is about to embark on discussions with aged care industry members to develop a strategy for trying to win improvements to wages and conditions.

The strategy will have to be carefully considered in the context of tight aged care funding arrangements and the introduction of John Howard's new, strongly anti-workers' laws.

HACSU officials are particularly concerned about the effect the abolition of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission's powers to determine wage increases.

Howard's new "Fair Pay" Commission may have an impact on ensuring that wages keep pace with inflation, that's why we need to discuss other options for wage outcomes.

Over recent months HACSU officials have been visiting a number of worksites promoting discussion on the key issues in this sector. Not surprisingly, wages figured prominently.

HACSU Assistant State Secretary, Tim Jacobson, said that the crucial factor in the bargaining process, now that there is effectively no independent umpire who could arbitrate, was collective strength.

"Previously, there was an independent umpire in the AIRC. Now we will not be able to rely on it for a fair adjudication. It will have no role."

"Howard's new Fair Pay Commission may provide some basic increases in minimum wages, but it actually has no statutory requirement to be fair, unlike the AIRC."

"There is only one thing now that we can rely on and that is our collective strength. In aged care it will be up to members what they achieve."

All members are asked to keep their eyes out for membership meetings notices and to attend meetings. Urge your workmates to attend and get involved.