STAFF at Warrnambool’s Mercy Place aged care centre will take protected industrial action tomorrow as part of their long-running campaign for pay equivalent to other similar facilities.
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Members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation will hold stopwork meetings between 7am to 3pm after earlier rejecting an offer by management.
The union wants a 13.25 per cent increase for nurses and 15 per cent for personal care assistants over four years, claiming the assistants are more than 3 per cent behind standard industry rates.
Tomorrow’s action will include a lunchtime barbecue where members of the public will be invited to learn more about the campaign.
Mercy Health executive director residential aged care Voula Yankoulas said the union’s campaign was disappointing.
“The decision is in full knowledge the proposed action will directly impact our residents,” she said.
“Mercy Health believes its offer of a 12.5 per cent increase for nurses and a 14.5 per cent increase for aged-care assistants represents a genuine and reasonable offer, which reflects our staffing and operational profile.
“Mercy Health assures residents and their families that during this period of industrial activity the safety and well-being of residents will remain paramount and as always, we remain committed to their care.”
About 120 residents are cared for at Mercy Place.
