STAFF at Stretton Park Aged Care in Maffra and the Health Workers Union (HWU) have been embroiled in ongoing negotiations with Central Gippsland Health (CGHS) regarding a new enterprise bargaining agreement.
The new CGHS EBA for aged workers at Stretton Park was recently rejected by staff – 62 per cent voted no – with a new ballot expected within the next couple of weeks.
The Health Workers Union (HWU) says they have been supporting members at Stretton Park to campaign against a pay offer of 2.5 per cent. HWU Gippsland organiser Tim Rowley has called the offer a “slap in the face”, saying the union was seeking a three per cent offer.
“Our members don’t want much, just what they got last time, three per cent. Enough to put food on the table and keep up with the costing of living. Fair pay for fair work. Decent wages so Stretton Park can attract staff and deliver the care residents deserve,” Mr Rowley said.
“Stretton Park has faced chronic staff shortages over the past months, leading to our members regularly working understaffed and taking on extra shifts to just maintain resident care.
“In one instance, lifestyle and leisure, along with administrative staff, had to make dinner for residents due to no kitchen staff being rostered. Fifteen-to-20 shifts are going unfilled each week and WorkSafe have been called in to investigate.”
CGH has reportedly insisted that the 2.5 per cent wage offer is their most financially responsible offer.
The Gippsland Times reached out to the CGH, which opted to not release a statement on the EBA saga.
Mr Rowley said the staff shortages had led to burn-out, more sick leave and “created unsafe conditions for residents”.
“Our members are overworked and underpaid. Stretton Park has built a reputation in the sector for notoriously low pay, so they struggle to hire or retain staff – so the situation gets worse and worse,” he said.
WorkSafe confirmed to the Gippsland Times that they visited Stretton Park, but decided that no action would be taken.
“WorkSafe visited the workplace to ensure occupational health and safety obligations were being met and is not taking further action in relation to this matter at this time,” a WorkSafe spokeswoman said.
WorkSafe inspectors seek to ensure duty holders are complying with their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act by inspecting workplaces, making inquiries with relevant parties including any health and safety representatives, providing guidance and information, and taking enforcement action when there is evidence of a contravention or an immediate risk to health and safety.
