Nelson support workers and union members have called the Government’s offer of a $0.70 pay increase ‘backward’.
The Care and Support Workers (Pay Equity) Settlement Act, passed in 2017, and delivered $2 billion in wage rises to care workers in residential aged care facilities, as well as those who care for elderly, disabled and injured people in their own homes.
The historic pay deal took years of activism and two years of negotiations but is due to expire in July, with no continued agreement in place. This has left the affected workers angry, disappointed and once again, undervalued.
Local support workers say it is near-impossible to attract new staff into the industry as it is not seen as a viable career option due to its low pay and heavy workload.
“Everything that we achieved five years ago is getting kicked to the kerb – these guys are actually going backwards,” says PSA Top of the South organiser Kate Davis.
Starting rate is $21.68 – just $0.48 more than minimum wage.
“It means we are going to be constantly trying to recruit people to this industry because they don’t see a career path, we are already 3000 workers short across the country.”
Kate says, because we have such a high concentration of people with need and are an aging community, we need to be doing everything we can to support the workers.
“The residents of this region should be worried. If they want to stay in their homes, have people supporting them to do that, you’re reliant on these people, so every resident should be worried about this pay offer.”
Carena Scott is a support worker assisting elderly to stay in their own home. Her day-to-day work consists of personal care including showering, toileting, sanitary products for incontinence, meal support for breakfast, lunch and dinner, making sure people are taking their medication and housework.
Days are often long and busy, with support workers visiting 16 clients a day, not uncommon. A time period of five minutes to get between clients, is common, even though it’s sometimes kilometres away.
For Carena, the biggest concern is short-staffing due to the low pay. “I’m really concerned that we are not attracting new people into the industry because the starting rate is so low.”
She says the pay offer would see them with just and extra $19.50 in the hand a week for someone working 40 hours.
“The gains that they made five years ago have all disappeared.”
“We’re not valued, we’re not seen.”
