All HSU members at Heritage Care are invited to join a union information session tomorrow at 4:30pm to discuss the proposed enterprise agreement – see details below.

Voting for your proposed Heritage Care Enterprise Agreement opens today. We encourage all members to review the agreement carefully and have a say in the ballot.

Heritage Care are proposing a wage increase of 1.5% for 2021, back paid to the first full pay period from 1 July 2021, followed by an additional 1.5% pay increase from the first full pay period from 1 July 2022.

The HSU has argued strongly at the negotiation table for a better wage increase, but Heritage have said that 3% over the two-year period is the best they can afford. It is now up to members whether to accept this offer or not.

Other key changes in this agreement include:

• Improved overtime rates of pay – Double time now payable for all overtime worked on a Saturday.
• Additional annual leave for shift workers – Aged Care employees are now entitled to an additional week of annual leave (pro-rata for part time employees) for working more than four ordinary hours on 10 or more weekends.
• Improved annual leave loading, ensuring you are paid annual leave loading on all annual leave taken.
• Special provision ensuring that pay rates are standardised across all Heritage Care facilities (ensuring in particular that pay rates at The Manor are lifted to ensure parity).
•  Improved training provisions, with training now paid at the appropriate rate of pay (not just the base rate).
• Better support for employees experiencing family or domestic violence, including 3 days paid leave per year to support staff.
• Improved pay rates for casuals, with penalties paid for Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and overtime now compounded by the casual loading.

You can find a copy of the proposed agreement here.

We encourage all members to read the offer carefully and have your say in the ballot. Voting opens today and will close at 5PM on Friday 10 June.

If a majority vote ‘yes’ to accept the offer, the agreement will be accepted and will be sent to the Fair Work Commission for approval. However, if a majority vote ‘no’ the agreement will not be approved, and the HSU will continue campaigning for a better deal.

All HSU members are invited to attend a Zoom meeting tomorrow Wednesday 8 June at 4:30PM to discuss the offer and answer any questions that you may have. You can join the Zoom meeting online at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82102375915 or via telephone by calling (02) 8015 6011 and entering Meeting ID: 821 0237 5915.

If your colleagues are not yet HSU members, encourage them to join at www.hsu.asn.au/join so that they are part of the campaign for a better deal. If you have any questions, please contact your HSU delegate or the HSU office for assistance.