Bolton Clarke's members of the Victorian branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) began protected industrial action this week, wearing t-shirts, banning the collection or recording data, writing chalk pen messages on cars, and refusing to be redeployed.
The threat of industrial action prompted Bolton Clarke to increase its wage offer to 2% over four years, the AMF (Vic Branch) stated. The union is seeking conditions in line with Victorian public health sector staff plus a further 4% per annum, or by the minimum wage increase, whichever is higher.
Bolton Clarke Group CEO Stephen Muggleton, told The Weekly SOURCE, "It’s disappointing that the ANMF have decided to take this action after six months of good faith negotiations to reach a new Victorian state-based enterprise agreement.
"We have no intention to undertake employee lockouts and want people to attend work as usual to maintain continuity of care."
Stephen said the current aged care funding environment is uncertain because of the Government's delayed response to the Aged Care Taskforce.
"We do not know what, if any, additional funding the sector will receive through the Government’s response to the Aged Care Taskforce, which continues to be delayed." he said.
"We do not know how Government will regulate the price of home care under the home care reforms that are due to commence from 1 July 2025.
"We don’t even know how much money we will have to spend in 2024/25 because we are still waiting for the 2024/25 AN-ACC price in residential care."
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation has confirmed proposed actions will not adversely impact resident care.
Last month Opal HealthCare's NSW aged care staff rejected a proposed enterprise agreement (EA), which included a pay rise of 8.25% over three years (2.25%, 3% and 3%).
