Following sustained pressure from HSU members, Heritage Care have agreed to negotiate a new enterprise agreement across all of their NSW sites.

This significant turnaround comes after an overwhelming majority of staff at The Manor Fairfield East signed a petition calling on management to sit down with HSU representatives and delegates and commence negotiations for a new deal on wages and conditions.

The actions of these members shows that when we are active and united, we can achieve real wins.

In a letter to the HSU, management have said that the new agreement will cover Heritage Care staff at all NSW sites – Heritage Fairfield (The Manor), Heritage Botany, Heritage Illawong, Heritage Pennant Hills, Heritage Kingswood and Heritage Queanbeyan.

So who will be covered?

This agreement will apply to Heritage Care staff only. Other staff employed by contractors like Catering Industries and Next Generation Services will not be covered. This isn’t good enough. Everyone working in aged care deserves better pay and conditions and the HSU will be working with local delegates and members to push for “site rates” for all workers on Heritage Care sites.

What next?

Shortly, you will receive a union survey asking you about your priorities during this negotiation. Enterprise bargaining is your chance to have a say about your wages and conditions so make sure you keep an eye out for the survey.

Only HSU members will be able to participate in our survey. So if your colleagues are not yet union members, ask them to join online today at www.hsu.asn.au/join so that they can participate.

This is a great first win, but we need to stay strong and united to get a good deal in bargaining.