Union lodges dispute to Fair Work Commission over Casey Council’s aged care future
Council workers have complained aged care and disability services are under threat in Casey and could lead to significant job losses, after a dispute was lodged to the Fair Work Commission by the union.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Australian Services Union has lodged a dispute with the Fair Work Commission raising concerns Casey Council was set to cut aged care and disability services without consulting its workforce.
A council community care employee told the Cranbourne Leader she feared job losses were on the cards but said the union hadn’t been fully briefed.
The employee said the council had been holding “information sessions” with workers for the past 12 months on the future of its services.
“We have been meeting to discuss the future of aged care services and non-NDIS clients. It was pretty obvious that a restructure has been in the works and this could lead to at least 120 job losses,” she said.
“They should’ve done their due diligence and advised the union.”
The Australian Services Union sent an email to the council’s aged care workers on Wednesday, November 27, saying it “strongly believed Casey management had failed in their obligation” to consult with the union while establishing an Aged and Disability Services review.
The email to union members said: “Despite repeated requests through correspondence and meetings management have refused to divulge information other than to say they are reviewing services.
“This is in despite of your enterprise agreement saying that they must involve your union in any major change process.”
ASU branch secretary Lisa Darmanin said the union and the council had now agreed to work together after a Fair Work Commission hearing on November 26.
“The Australian Services Union was concerned the City of Casey was set to carve up aged and disability services without consulting with its exceptional aged care workforce,” Ms Darmanin said.
“Thousands of vulnerable elderly people in Casey will be relieved council has reassured the ASU that they do not intend to outsource or privatise aged care services in the short term and to genuinely consult with the workforce around any future change.”
Casey Council director corporate services Sheena Frost refuted the claims by the union, the council was making changes to its aged and disability services without proper consultation.
“The council strongly disagrees that it has not complied with all of its obligations and, in fact, believes that it has gone “above and beyond” in consulting with staff and the ASU about the review,” Ms Frost said.
“At a Fair Work Commission conciliation hearing, the ASU’s dispute against Casey was not supported, and both parties agreed to continue to engage cooperatively as we go through each stage of the review.”
MORE:
CENTRE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR MISUSE OF PUBLIC MONEY
SHOPPERS ‘TOO AFRAID’ TO VISIT DANDENONG’S CBD
“At this stage of our review, it’s too early to tell what impact the current funding uncertainty will have on our Aged and Disability Services. However, we will continue to consult with staff and the ASU as this work progresses.”
She said 70 per cent of the council’s aged and disability services funding comes from state and federal funding, with ongoing reforms meaning there was no funding certainty.
The Federal Government began introducing changes to the aged and disability sectors in 2015, forcing Victorian councils to re-examine how to deliver services in respond to the changes.
Casey’s review began this year with recommendations made to Council to decide which services will remain part of Community Care, which might transition to another provider and which may cease.
Planning on implementing a council-endorsed decision is expected early next year.
Fair Work Commission spokesman confirmed the union had lodged a dispute but was not investigating the council.