Congratulations! The Fair Work Commission has approved your new enterprise agreement and it is in effect from today.

The agreement was only approved after HSU industrial officers pressed Arcare for further undertakings to ensure your agreement met the standards required.

Those undertakings include improvements giving greater protection about when part-time employees agree to be rostered.

A copy of the new agreement can be found here, including the additional undertakings at the end.

Other key improvements of the new Agreement are:

• New wage deal, 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    3.5% (minimum) on or after the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2022;

o    3% from the first full pay period on or after 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.

Your new agreement was the effort of HSU members across all Arcare sites. When members stand strong together, we can make real improvements at work.

Keep an eye out for your next pay increase and back pay. If you have any questions please contact your HSU Delegate or Organiser, or call the HSU Member Services Division on 1300 478 679.

If your colleagues are not yet HSU members, encourage them to join the union today at www.hsu.asn.au/join.