After an election result that promises significant change in aged care, workers in seven major aged care providers caring for thousands of aged care residents will take strike action in three states today.<\/p>\n
As a sign of the continuing crisis in aged care, aged care workers will strike as Australia marks the tragic milestone \u2013 passed the day before the election \u2013 of 1500 deaths in aged care from Covid this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAged care workers are buoyed by the promises of change made by Labor,\u201d Carolyn Smith, Aged Care Director, United Workers Union, said today.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately those promises do not immediately address the continuing crisis facing workers and residents across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cOmicron infections are now occurring in 825 aged care facilities \u2013 up from 761 the week before – and the death toll from Covid last week alone was 80 aged care residents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Strike actions will continue to affect seven major providers employing about 11,000 aged care workers in 149 aged care facilities, caring for more than 11,500 residents.<\/p>\n
The strike actions will affect the biggest aged care providers in Queensland (BlueCare), South Australia (Southern Cross Care) and Western Australia (Aegis), along with several other major providers in those states.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn their industrial action, aged care workers always made it clear they were demanding the best possible offer from their employers, and they continue to demand employers take responsibility for the conditions workers and residents face,\u201d Ms Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not good enough for very rich, very large organisations saying \u2018my hands are tied, we blame the government\u2019 when they clearly have the resources to offer our members a decent pay rise, more staff and more time to care.<\/p>\n
\u201cLarge not-for-profit providers are on notice aged care workers will next week take their protests to the head offices of Anglicare and Southern Cross Care in SA, and Churches of Christ and BlueCare in Queensland, if these big organisations continue to turn a deaf ear to workers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorkers will continue to hold their bosses to account and will do so even when Labor\u2019s promised reforms become a tangible reality for workers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Smith said Labor\u2019s cornerstone aged care promises had the potential to significantly improve the lives of thousands of aged care workers and aged care residents, including:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in no doubt these reforms when implemented to the fullest extent will greatly improve the conditions facing aged care workers,\u201d Ms Smith said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil then, angry aged care workers will continue to fight through every means available to win better pay, better conditions and more time to care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aged care worker from South Australia: <\/strong>“We are walking off the job because we are burnt out, we are stressed, we are always short of staff. We want more staff \u2013 not just for us but for our residents. They are suffering.”<\/p>\n Aged care worker from Queensland:<\/strong> \u201cWe’re pushed to the limit by management, working with no breaks. Stress is at a dangerous high. Residents are anxious and the workload is unmanageable.\u201d<\/p>\n Aged care worker from Western Australia:<\/strong> \u201cThe main reason is the residents. That is the main reason for me that I’m taking strike action.\u201d<\/p>\n