Bolton Clarke industrial action escalates

Bolton Clarke staff are participating in further industrial action in a dispute over pay and conditions with the aged care and retirement living provider.

Nurses and personal care workers will join stop-work rallies at various Bolton Clarke sites throughout August and September.

There will be a two-hour rally on Friday outside Bolton Clarke’s Glendale site in Melbourne between 1pm and 3pm. Another rally is scheduled to take place on Friday 9 August outside the not-for-profit provider’s Rosebrook facility in southwest Victoria.

The rollout of demonstrations – organised by the Australian Nurses and Midwifery Federation – follows last week’s stop-work rally on Monday 22 July outside Bolton Clarke’s Forest Hill site in Melbourne.

Home services nurses are also taking action by refusing to assess and admit new clients.

“Nurses, midwives and personal care workers are escalating their industrial action with a heavy heart because Bolton Clarke is not listening and continues to take advantage of their caring nature,” said ANMF Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick.   

Ms Fitzpatrick reassured residents, home care clients and their families that – while there may be disruption for Bolton Clarke management – there will be no risk to health, welfare and safety.

Ms Fitzpatrick noted that the federal government has provided Bolton Clarke with millions of dollars for increased wages and to pay enough staff to meet the mandated care minute targets.

“Meanwhile, Bolton Clarke is working to suppress wage increases for current staff and cutting wages for new staff so nurses and carers will be earning different pay for the same work,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.

For the past 18 months the Victorian branch of the ANMF has been negotiating wages and conditions on behalf of members working across Bolton Clarke’s 22 residential aged care facilities – located across Melbourne, Geelong and the Mornington Peninsula – and its home support program.

ANMF is seeking improved conditions and a minimum 4 per cent pay increase to match wages paid by other aged care providers.

Bolton Clarke has said it will continue to engage with employees, the ANMF and bargaining parties to reach agreement as soon as possible.

“Over the next two weeks, ANMF Victoria members will be taking part in two-hour stop-work meetings at our Glendale and Rosebrook residential care homes as part of protected industrial action. Proactive management plans including additional staffing are in place to ensure the continued health, wellbeing and safety of residents and to minimise any disruption to service delivery,” said Bolton Clarke Group CEO Stephen Muggleton.

He added: “Bolton Clarke continues to work closely with employees, unions including the ANMF and other bargaining parties. We are committed to delivering the best possible wages outcome for staff with the funds available, ensuring we can continue to provide high-quality care to the communities we serve. We are disappointed that the union is taking this action as good faith bargaining continues but remain committed to reaching an agreement as soon as possible.”

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