LHMU News
Hall & Prior aged care workers win right to vote on industrial action
Workers at one of the largest aged care operators in Western Australia have won the right to vote on whether they will take industrial action in the New Year.
The ballot was approved on Christmas Eve by the Industrial Relations Committee after it rejected Hall & Prior’s claim that the ballot shouldn’t take place.
The hard working yet poorly-paid workers at Hall & Prior, who include carers, cleaners and caterers, have been trying to negotiate in good faith with this employer for the last 13 months.
Dave Kelly, secretary of the LHMU, said: “They are offering our members a measly 9% pay rise over three years, which equates to just 54c an hour, against a background of huge cost of living increases in Western Australia.
“Hall & Prior workers want a minimum 16.5% rise over three years, which would bring them up to scratch with other aged care companies of a similar size.
Undervalued job
“Despite doing an incredibly important yet undervalued job looking after the older generations, they are paid like second class citizens at Hall & Prior whose wage rates are among the lowest in WA.
“Hall & Prior are only looking to turn a large profit and do not have the best interests of the residents at heart. Our members have told us staff numbers and budgets for things like meals and incontinence pads have been cut back in each of the homes they run, putting enormous pressure on the workers left.
“These workers really care for these residents and are sickened at the effects this cost cutting is having on them.”
'Budget cuts'
One Hall & Prior worker said they had pleaded with management to improve conditions in the homes.
“This is not just for ourselves, this is for the residents but these requests have fallen on deaf ears,” she said.
“We care so much for the residents but staff and budget cuts mean our jobs are becoming increasingly difficult. We cannot offer the level of care we want to and this is heartbreaking.”
If voted for, the industrial action is likely to take the form of work bans. While industrial action may include some stoppages, they will be designed to put pressure on management. They will not directly affect the residents in the 13 Hall & Prior homes in WA.
Hall & Prior operate 13 nursing homes in WA and six in New South Wales. They care for more than 1000 residents in these homes. There are around 750 Hall & Prior employees in WA.
