AnglicareSA aged-care workers strike over low pay, conditions

Striking AnglicareSA aged-care workers demanding a better pay rise say they often work understaffed and are burnt out after Covid. But Anglicare says they are paid above the award.

AnglicareSA aged-care workers have told horror stories of working on their own during Covid as they protested yesterday for a better pay rise.

Workers rallied outside AnglicareSA’s Hindmarsh head offices on Port Rd on Thursday, pleading for a pay rise over the offered 2 per cent.

AnglicareSA is a major South Australian aged-care provider, caring for almost 600 elderly residents across the state. The organisation said its wages were above the award and reviewed every year.

The protest was attended by about 50 people, who took to the AnglicareSA head office chanting “Union, power!” and “Workers United will never be defeated!” They also had signs with “honk to support aged care workers” for passing traffic.

AnglicareSA carer Sara Gautam, from Seaview Downs said she worked alone for 35 residents while the rest of the staff were in isolation for Covid.

“I did (it) alone; I don’t know how I manage but I worked alone on with 35 residents. It’s not fair for me, for my residents,” Ms Gautam said.

An aged-care worker for 30 years, Rosemary Daniel from St Peters said staffing levels had been getting worse and worse.

“We’re understaffed a lot of days and we have agency [staff] all the time. The management really don’t care about us. We want extra carers and a pay rise.”

Striking aged-care workers march outside AnglicareSA’s offices. Picture: Kitty Barr

AnglicareSA carer Rashmi Katwal from Eden Hills said workers were burnt out after two years of Covid.

“It was very hard and for staff and for residents as well. We are always out of staff… we are burnt out.

“I hope we will get more staff, more respect and more quality care to our residents – which they deserve. They deserve to be treated well with a proper number of staff with good nursing.”

AnglicareSA said its aged-care workers’ wages were reviewed every year, and remain above the modern award. Anglicare said it provided aged care staff with increases above inflation – and is waiting for the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review to determine this year’s increase.

AnglicareSA chief executive Grant Reubenicht said the organisation had offered support to its aged-care staff during the pandemic.

“We value the work of our aged care employees and believe the best form of advocacy for the work reform needed is through the work value case currently before the Fair Work Commission, with the support of the newly elected Labor government,” he said.

“Since December last year, AnglicareSA has provided aged-care employees with extra financial support, take-home meals, grocery vouchers and gift packs to ease the burden on their work-life balance as longer hours are worked due to Covid workforce shortages.”

Rosemary Daniel, Rashmi Katwal and Sara Gautam. Picture: Kitty Barr

A report from AnglicareSA published last week has outlined how difficult it is to make ends meet at present, even with a full-time job.

United Workers Union SA aged care lead official, Kimberly Rowney, said the workers were only asking for a conversation.

“Just last week Anglicare was talking about how working people can’t afford to keep up with their bills because of the rising cost of living. Why do they talk the talk but not walk the walk?” Ms Rowney asked.

The protestors signed a letter hoping to deliver it to AnglicareSA chief executive, Grant Reubenicht, but said they were refused access.

Anglicare said union members were not refused access to deliver their letter.

United Workers Union aged-care director Carolyn Smith said the strike came after a “lack of respect” from AnglicareSA, which she said has offered their workers only a “miserable 2 per cent pay rise” despite inflation now running at 5 per cent.

“Aged-care workers are being forced to take unprecedented strike action as a result of pay and conditions that are failing workers and failing residents,” she said.

“Despite AnglicareSA’s willingness to talk up the wage crisis in local media, it’s also clear they are willing to do nothing about it for their aged-care workers.

“Already low-paid workers would be left to go backwards”

Striking aged-care workers march outside AnglicareSA’s offices. Picture: Kitty Barr

South Australian nursing homes generally have felt the brunt of the Covid crisis, as rampant outbreaks stretched the sector’s workforce to the limits.

“Aged-care workers are being pushed to breaking point by understaffing, impossible workloads and the emotional toll of not having enough time or support to provide the quality of care that residents require,” Ms Smith said.

“Aged-care workers are fighting for enough time to give the quality care that older Australians need and deserve.”