Boroondara: ASU claims secret deal done on council’s aged care services

A services union claims an inner eastern council stitched up a deal with a new aged care services provider and kept workers in the dark.

Boroondara Council will meet on April 11 to discuss whether it will continue to provide aged care services to residents. File picture.

A services union claims more than 60 workers are at risk of losing their jobs if a council in Melbourne’s inner east decides to privatise its aged care services.

But Boroondara Council says it is not outsourcing the Commonwealth Home Support Program to private companies, and is instead providing options to program participants.

The council will vote on Monday night on whether to extend its contract with the federal government to supply more than 2000 elderly residents with home support services.

It comes following the government’s decision to replace CHSP with its new Support at Home program on July 1.

The new program aims to help elderly Australians stay in their homes longer, in line with recommendations from a Royal Commission, and is designed to offer each person a choice of provider and services.

The council’s acting director of community support, Gail Power, said the council began consultation with staff and clients on February 22 to help with its eventual decision.

Boroondara Council has been accused by the Australian Services Union of failing to consult properly with its aged care services about its future plans. File picture.

But the Australian Services Union claimed the council informed the government of its intention to cease providing services late last year, and had appointed Mecwacare as its new provider from July 1.

The union also claimed the council and mayor Jane Addis refused to meet with them to discuss the issue and options instead of “handing to another provider”.

“The process has been disrespectful of staff who first heard about council’s privatisation agenda from their elderly clients who received letters explaining the proposal,” ASU secretary Lisa Darmanin said.

“Communities and the workers who deliver services need to be involved in council decision making from the start, not treated as an after thought.

“Boroondara councillors should delay making a decision that has such big ramifications for vulnerable elderly residents and in-home aged care workers until there has been broad community-wide consultation.”

According to a press release, the ASU took matter to the Fair Work Commission for a hearing on Friday, focusing on whether the council complied with obligations to consult with the union and affected employees.

Almost 350 people have signed the union’s online petition against privatisation of services in Boroondara.

Ms Power said the council was a contractor to the federal government and any decisions on appointing a new provider were the government’s responsibility.

She said the council was also “regularly meeting with all potentially affected employees and has initiatives in place to support them during this process and beyond should council no longer deliver these services.”

Cr Addis confirmed she hadn’t met with union representatives to discuss the matter, but was unsure if she had received any requests, or if she was the right council representative to do so.