ANMF is encouraging all Menarock Life Aged Care members to reject low wages and VOTE NO to their employer’s unfair proposed enterprise agreement.
Voting in the secret ballot will open Friday 23 February and close Friday 1 March 2024.
ANMF has been negotiating new wages and conditions for nurses and personal care workers with Menarock since mid-2023.
Menarock’s nurses and carers are currently amongst the lowest paid in the Victorian aged care sector. Management’s proposed agreement will keep them at the bottom.
ANMF has organised a ‘vote no’ mobile billboard campaign to support members and highlight why it is important to reject the proposed EBA. The high-profile ‘vote no to rock bottom wages’ mobile billboards are visiting Menarock’s ten aged care facilities each day.
ANMF ‘VOTE NO to rock bottom wages’ mobile billboard outside Menarock Life Sherbrooke in Upper Ferntree Gully.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (Victorian Branch) Secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said: ‘The Albanese Government is pouring billions into private aged care wages and staffing reforms.
‘We’ve had a royal commission that found the Federal Government and private aged care employers both had a responsibility to lift the employment conditions and status of aged care workers.
‘By voting no, Menarock members will be telling their employer the days of rock bottom wages are over for those who provide important nursing and personal care for vulnerable, elderly residents.’
Menarock’s ten private aged care facilities are: Salisbury House in Beaconsfield Upper, Camberwell Gardens, Glen Waverly Aged Care, Greenaway Gardens in Heathmont, Rosehill in Highett, Emmavale in Lower Templestowe, McGregor Gardens in Pakenham, Sherbrooke in Upper Ferntree Gully and Willowbrae in Templestowe.
Negotiations have reached a stalemate with ANMF members recently rejecting Menarock’s complicated pay rise offer.
Management’s proposed agreement includes an ‘Above Award 2% Guarantee’ pay clause but Menarock has added a restriction that means the guarantee clause will only apply to 2024.
Based on Menarock’s current wages offer and its proposed ‘guarantee’ clause, staff may be paid between 2% and 4% above the Award pay rates on 1 January 2025 and return to the minimum Award pay rate by mid-2025. Menarock refuses 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.
Menarock is also proposing a $300-sign on bonus that will not increase members’ wages and will mostly disappear in tax.
How do Menarock wages compare with other nursing homes?
Menarock’s pay rates for nurses and carers are amongst the lowest across Victoria’s 160 aged care providers.
Personal care workers are at least $30 to $50 behind their colleagues at other major aged care networks each week.
Enrolled nurses are $70 to $95 behind each week.
A registered nurse grade 2 is paid $110 to $140 less per week and a grade 4 or grade 5 is paid $210 to $240 less per week.
How does the vote work?
All staff employed under the agreement can vote in the secret ballot. When the ballot opens on Friday 23 February, staff will be able to vote online, via text message or over the phone.
ANMF members are encouraged to speak with their non-member colleagues about rejecting the offer so we can return to the negotiating table and talks can continue for a wage rise and agreement that values, recognises and rewards their important work.
A successful no vote requires more than 50 per cent of those who vote to vote no.
Why Menarock Life nurses and carers should vote no
Read the Menarock VOTE NO flier
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 Camberwell Gardens.
