From the Secretary

Opal’s insulting enterprise agreement offer – TELL THEM NO!

Dear Member,

Opal is holding firm on its sub-par wage increase offer and has indicated it wishes to put its draft enterprise agreement to a vote. This is your opportunity to vote NO to this insulting offer.

Management has not moved on their offer and is still offering the same wage increase:

  • 2.25 per cent from 1 July 2023
  • 3 per cent from 1 July 2024
  • 3 per cent from 1 July 2025

This wage offer is insulting and ignores the incredible work you do every single day.

Therefore, the HSU bargaining team is encouraging all HSU members to VOTE NO to this agreement.

Since Opal last negotiated an enterprise agreement, aged care workers have faced unbelievable working conditions through the Covid-19 pandemic. Workers also did an incredible job in looking after some of the most vulnerable people our community, at a time of extreme risk.

How does this offer stack up?

This offer is far from what aged care workers deserve, and it is less than what has been offered by many other aged care providers.

Support Services

Compared to other recently approved enterprise agreements at providers such as McLean Care, Abel Tasman Village, or Little Sisters of the Poor, support services wages at Opal will be on average 4 per cent lower than many other current EAs.

Carers/AINs

A Carer with a Cert IV working for Opal in Victoria could earn up to $33.14, while in NSW, Opal has refused HSU members’ claim for increased pay for Cert IV recognition. Opal is asking carers to accept lower wages than their colleagues in Victoria, with the proposed pay rate only reaching $32.81 in mid-2025!

Next Steps

Opal plan to publish the proposed enterprise agreement and explanatory documents on Friday, 19 April, with the ballot opening at 9am on Monday, 29 April. The vote would close at 4pm Monday, 6 May.

Every Opal employee will get to vote on the enterprise agreement, but only those staff who vote will be counted.

If a majority of votes say ‘Yes’, then the offer will be accepted, but if a majority of votes say ‘No’, then the offer will not be accepted.

The bargaining period does not end if staff do not accept Opal’s offer. The HSU will continue bargaining with Opal and we will keep campaigning for our wages claim of 5 per cent per annum.

We encourage everyone have their say and we encourage all HSU members to VOTE NO to this offer.

Encourage your workmates to join the HSU. Together you have strength in your workplace. New members can join online at www.hsu.asn.au/join or call 1300 478 679. 

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