Menarock Life Aged Care nurses and personal care workers have rejected their employer’s proposed EBA offer that would have kept their wages amongst the lowest in Victoria.
ANMF has made itself available to resume good faith negotiations this week and requested that Menarock make an improved offer for members’ consideration.
Members previously resolved that ANMF should make a Fair Work Commission application for a protected industrial action ballot if Menarock does not provide an acceptable improved offer at the next bargaining meeting.
Management walked away from negotiations with ANMF in February and insisted on putting its inferior wages and conditions offer, which members had already rejected, to a ballot of all employees.
The anonymous electronic ballot was held between 23 February and 1 March.
The rejected offer included a complicated pay rise offer of an ‘Above Award 2% Guarantee’ pay clause that was restricted to the year 2024 of the four-year agreement.
This meant staff may have been paid between 2% and 4% above the Award pay rates on 1 January 2025 and then return to the minimum Award pay rate by mid-2025. Menarock refused to apply the ‘2% Above Award Guarantee’ to the 2025, 2026 and 2027 calendar years.
Other Victorian aged care employers pay 6% to 8% above Award pay rates for carers, 20% above the Award pay rate for enrolled nurses and 25% plus above the Award pay rates for registered nurses.
ANMF organised a strong ‘VOTE NO’ campaign, including mobile billboards to support members and ensure they understood what they would lose if they accepted the agreement.
ANMF (Vic Branch) Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said: ‘Menarock members have sent a strong message to their employer that their important work with vulnerable, elderly residents must be valued and rewarded.
‘I encourage members to stay strong and engaged in their campaign to achieve improved wages and conditions and we welcome the many new Menarock members who joined ANMF during this phase of the EBA campaign.’
ANMF ‘VOTE NO to rock bottom wages’ mobile billboard outside Menarock Life Shepparton.
ANMF VOTE NO to rock bottom wages mobile billboard outside Menarock Life Rosewood in Highett.
ANMF ‘VOTE NO to rock bottom wages’ mobile billboard outside Menarock Life Sherbrooke in Upper Ferntree Gully.
ANMF VOTE NO to rock bottom wages mobile billboard outside Menarock Life Camberwell Gardens.
ANMF VOTE NO to rock bottom wages mobile billboard outside Menarock Life Greenway Gardens in Heathmont.
