Tony Abbott abandons aged care workers

TONY ABBOTT’S CONFIRMATION HE WILL UNDERMINE THE $1.2 BILLION FUNDING PACKAGE FOR LOW-PAID AGED CARE WORKERS HAS BEEN CONDEMNED BY TASMANIA’S HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES UNION.

During Wednesday’s Leaders Debate the Opposition Leader said he would, if elected Prime Minister on September 7, uncouple the funds set aside for aged care workers wages from enterprise bargaining and hand it straight to Aged Care providers.

This would have the effect of leaving it up to employers to determine what amount—if any—to dole out to workers.

Under the current Living Longer Living Better package, the $1.2b has been set aside to address low wages in Aged Care.

“Tony Abbott is showing us very clearly he will be an anti-worker Prime Minister and especially anti low-paid workers,” said HACSU Assistant Secretary Tim Jacobson.

“Mr Abbott doesn’t believe in enterprise bargaining, he believes in giving employers all the power to dictate wages and working conditions.

“Mr Abbott is abandoning aged care workers who have been waiting patiently for the Living Longer Living Better package to work its way through the enterprise bargaining system.

“If Mr Abbott becomes Prime Minister, all the hard work and cooperation will be undone and it’s back to the law of the jungle.”

Aged care worker Jo Skipsey said “This is a huge blow for us Aged Care workers. Not only does Mr Abbott want to take away our penalty rates, but now he’s planning to steal the wage rises we were looking forward to – and give the money to the bosses. We work hard, for low wages, and that’s why me and my workmates were really looking forward to wage increases.”

Tim Jacobson said unions like HACSU have bargained and negotiated with employers in good faith, and unions remain central to achieving the best outcomes for aged care workers and ensuring that industry standards are maintained.

“Unions are a fail-safe,” he said. “Unions will never abandon their aged care members the way Mr Abbott is abandoning aged care workers.”
HACSU Assistant Secretary Tim Jacobson.