HSU members at Catering Industries Botany have been pushing for a new enterprise agreement to give everyone a pay rise.

Union members successfully stood together and demanded that negotiations commence. However, Catering Industries have said that kitchen staff are not ‘Aged Care Employees’ under the coverage of the Aged Care Award and instead are employed under the Hospitality Industry (General) Award, which has different pay and conditions.

HSU members disputed this coverage, and we took our claim to the Federal Court to resolve the dispute. Unfortunately, the Federal Court agreed with Catering Industries that the Hospitality Industry Award is currently more appropriate than the Aged Care Award.

The HSU strongly disagrees with this outcome.

We believe that catering staff working at Heritage Care Botany are in fact aged care employees and should be covered by the Aged Care Award.

Further, we believe that all aged care workers – including those working as cooks, food service assistants, cleaners, laundry workers, administration, and maintenance – should be covered by the Aged Care Award and that all these roles should be eligible for a work value pay increase.

We are currently reviewing our legal options to ensure that all workers are covered by the Aged Care Award and we are preparing for the next stages of the HSU’s landmark Work Value Case, which will further examine the rates of pay for all aged care workers, including those who have not yet been subject to a pay rise.

HSU members will keep fighting to ensure that every worker is recognised and paid properly for the hard work you do every day.

Do you know someone who isn’t an HSU member? Encourage them to join our Union today and have a say at work. We are always stronger when we stand together.

New members can join at www.hsu.asn.au/join or call 1300 478 679.