Members of the NSW Nurses and Midwives' Association (NSWNMA) at Australia's largest residential aged care provider, Opal HealthCare, have voted in favour of taking protected industrial action at the provider's New South Wales aged care homes, saying the latest pay offer is "unacceptable" and does not keep pace with rising inflation and cost of living pressures.
The NSWNMA said members are demanding an 18% pay increase over three years, as well as 20 days sick leave, and want the provider to meet the mandated 200 care minute requirement in all its homes. The latest care minute data from the Department of Health and Aged Care showed 20 of Opal Healthcare’s 47 NSW facilities did not meet the Registered Nurse care minutes targets, while 42 did not meet their total care minute targets.
From Monday, Opal HealthCare nurses and carers have been able to vote on the provider’s most recent pay and conditions offer. Voting will close on Friday 23 August.
A spokesperson for Opal HealthCare told The Weekly SOURCE, “In many cases, Opal HealthCare already pays above the award.
"Most Opal HealthCare nurses and carers are being offered a pay rise of up to 25.07% over three years – which includes up to 15% last year, and an additional 10.07% compounded over the three years from 1 July 2023-1 July 2025.
“However, the union is now demanding an additional 9.1% compounded rise - for a cumulative 34% wage increase in only three years.
“Nurses and carers are currently being offered the opportunity to vote and endorse the 10.07%. If a majority of eligible participants vote yes, they will immediately be paid the backdated 3% increase for 2023, rather than having to wait months until the Fair Work Commission approves the agreement.”
The spokesperson added Opal HealthCare is also offering an additional three sick leave days for infectious diseases, access to a sick leave pool for serious illness or injury, an additional two weeks' parental leave, and domestic violence leave of up to 20 days.
Shaye Candish
In May, workers voted down Opal HealthCare’s original offer of 8.25% over three years.
NSWNMA General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said, "This was the first time Opal aged care nurses and carers successfully voted down an enterprise agreement."
"They’ve now made history again, uniting to fight against Australia’s largest for-profit aged care provider by taking protected industrial action."
The protected industrial action will impact Opal HealthCare's 47 NSW homes, of its 133 aged care homes in total.
The NSWNMA said 92% of Opal HealthCare members voted for the action, which could start as early as next week, and may involve wearing badges, distributing flyers, overtime bans, and work stoppages.
Shaye said, "The current pay offer by Opal does not deliver competitive rates of pay that will help recruit and retain staff, ease extreme workloads, and ensure compliance with mandatory care minutes."
Care minutes commitment
The Opal HealthCare spokesperson told The Weekly SOURCE the provider is meeting mandated care minute targets across its care communities and, “We have included a commitment to mandated care minutes in the proposed Enterprise Agreement.”
Workers flex industrial muscle
As we have reported previously, protected industrial action has been ongoing at Australia's largest Not For Profit aged care provider Bolton Clarke since July.
"Progress has been made and we remain hopeful of reaching an agreement as soon as possible," a Bolton Clarke spokesperson told The Weekly SOURCE.
The Fair Work Commission's Stage 3 pay rise for aged care workers of up to 13% will take effect in two stages from 1 January next year.
