Your employer is now asking all staff to vote on a new enterprise agreement. Your enterprise agreement protects your wages and conditions at work, so it’s really important that everyone understands how the agreement will affect them and has a say in the vote.

The enterprise agreement will only be accepted if a majority of people who cast a vote, vote ‘yes’. Therefore, it’s up to you to decide if this agreement is good enough.

Your HSU Bargaining Committee have been negotiating with Arcare about the terms of your new enterprise agreement.

Some of the key improvements are:

• New wage offer, including back pay for 2021 and 2022:

o   2.5% back paid to the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2021;

o   a minimum of 3.5% back paid to the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2022;

o   3% from the FFPPOA 1 July 2023.

• Improved parental leave, increased from 4 to 6 weeks paid leave for the primary carer.
• New paid study leave of 3 days per annum (pro-rata for part-time employees).
• Improved Saturday overtime rates for aged care employees – increased to 200% for all hours worked.
• Improved public holiday rates for casual – increased to 275% aged care employees.

Please follow the links for a copy of the proposed enterprise agreement and a copy of Arcare’s summary of key changes. Please review this information carefully and if you have any questions, get in contact via [E-Mail not displayed]

Next Steps

Voting on your new enterprise agreement opens today and will close at 5pm on Monday 20 March 2023. All HSU members are encouraged to have a say in this important decision.

The new agreement can only be accepted if a majority of staff who vote, vote ‘yes’. If you don’t like what is being offered and would like to keep negotiating, members are encouraged  to vote ‘no’.

If you have any questions or concerns about the process, contact your delegate or organiser. Alternatively, you can ring 1300 478 679.