Unions scupper hopes of quick resolution on pay rise for indirect aged care staff

Indirect aged care staff waiting to learn if they will also be granted a 15% wage rise will be left waiting for a decision well into 2024 after a union request saw a potential hearing date delayed into the New Year.

Last November, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) granted direct care aged care workers a 15% pay rise and forced the Federal Government to fund the full increase on 1 July 2023. However, the FWC left a decision on indirect care workers, who represent over 30% of all staff, for Stage 3 of the work value case.

Chris Mamarelis, CEO of aged care provider Whiddon, has said he has “around 600 team members excluded from the 15% pay rise and as an industry, this must equate to around 100,000 people”.

On Tuesday, Stage 3 negotiations continued with FWC President Adam Hatcher SC holding a Microsoft Teams meeting with all interested parties – unions and employers – where he flagged a December date for a hearing.

“What I had in mind is to devote two weeks in December to this. The first would be the week beginning 4 December, and the second would be the week beginning 18 December,” he said.

But unions threw a spanner in these plans.
 

HSU Senior Counsel not available

Michael McKenna for the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF) stated there were significant difference between the Health Services Union (HSU) and the ANMF.

Commissioner Hatcher appeared to be unimpressed.

“The difficulty I have is if you have read the annual wage review decision this decision connects with everything else. So, it’s highly desirous to wrap this up before the end of the wage review,” he said.

When all parties seemed to agree with the proposed dates, HSU Senior Counsel Mark Gibian said: “I am sorry, your Honour, can I just add something if it’s convenient?”

“So far as the dates from 18 December are concerned for my part, I’m afraid I’m not available at that time personally.”
Mark said he would be available the week of 11 December, but the HSU’s preference was for the issues to be dealt with in the New Year.

“The most convenient first day would be the week commencing 29 January,” he replied.

Commissioner Hatcher agreed, stating he will “try to issue directions and a listing for a hearing as soon as possible.”

The FWC had been planning to deliver a resolution on Stage 3 by next February. Is that now in doubt?

The SOURCE: This matter should be settled as soon as possible as the workforce morale in aged care homes is suffering. 

Click HERE to read the transcript.