Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) members employed as nurses, personal care workers and midwives by Bolton Clarke in Werribee escalate their protected industrial action this week as part of their campaign for respectful and fair wage increases.
Nurses at Bolton Clarke’s at home nursing service banned the assessment and admission of new clients, excluding clients with personal alarms, palliative care, oncology and paediatrics, from 7am Wednesday 31 July.
Nurses, midwives and personal care workers also started a rolling two-hour stop-work rally on Friday afternoon. The stop-work action will continue during August and September.
According to the ANMF after initially making a zero per cent wage offer, Bolton Clarke has offered a one-year agreement with a two per cent pay increase on some of the lowest rates in Victoria and a new lower pay rate scale for new employees. ANMF is seeking improved conditions and a minimum four per cent increase to match the wages of more competitive aged care providers.
Head of the Victorian branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Lisa Fitzpatrick said “Nurses, midwives and personal care workers are escalating their industrial action with a heavy heart because Bolton Clarke is not listening and continues to take advantage of their caring nature“.
“We’d like to reassure Bolton Clarke’s aged care residents, clients and their families that there may be some disruption or inconvenience for management, but there will be no risk to health, welfare and safety,” she said.
“The aged care royal commission found employers, the government and unions had to work together to increase wages to strengthen employers’ ability to recruit and retain a skilled workforce.
“The Albanese Government has provided Bolton Clarke with millions of dollars for increased wages and to pay for enough staff to implement the daily mandated 200 care minutes for each resident.
“ANMF has made a successful aged care wage case in the Fair Work Commission fully funded by the government.
“Meanwhile Bolton Clarke is working to suppress wage increases for current staff and cutting wages for new staff so nurses and carers will be earning different pay for the same work,’ Ms Fitzpatrick said.
For the past 18 months, the ANMF (Vic Branch) has been negotiating wages and conditions on behalf of about 1700 members working across Bolton Clarke’s 22 residential aged care facilities, at-home nursing program, Homeless Persons Nursing Program and maternal and child health line.
In a statement, Bolton Clarke group CEO Stephen Muggleton said the company had put “proactive management plans” in place including additional staff to ensure the “continued health, wellbeing and safety of residents and to minimise any disruption to service delivery”.
“Bolton Clarke has been working closely with employees, unions, including the ANMF, and other bargaining parties over the past six months to deliver the best possible outcome with funds available, ensuring we can continue to provide high quality care to communities we service,” Mr Muggleton said.
“We are disappointed that the union is taking this action as good faith bargaining continues. We remain committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible.”
