Key union gets stronger
One of the sector’s key unions, The Australian Nursing Federation, has experienced a recent surge in its aged care and overall health-care membership base.
More nurses in aged care are looking to the union for greater support, protection and a real change in the issues facing the sector, with Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) membership numbers on the increase since last year.
The ANF estimates that its health care membership base shot up by around 13 per cent between June 2009 and August 2010.
ANF federal secretary, Lee Thomas, said that the aged care sector represents a “significant” portion of the 25,000 membership increase.
“We believe the unprecedented growth in the private aged sector reflects the fact that the aged care industry is crying out for urgent reform,” Ms Thomas said.
“Nurses and assistants in nursing are also demanding urgent changes in the aged care sector where frail residents are receiving less and less care.”
ANF assistant federal secretary, Yvonne Chaperon, attributed the increase to the ANF’s current ‘Because We Care’ campaign, which started in March last year.
“I think the campaign struck a chord,” Ms Chaperon said.
“It not only struck a chord with the workforce in aged care but also with the general public…The issues are now being talked about.
“…Registered nurses in aged care receive up to $300 a week less than their colleagues in public hospitals and yet they are doing the same work.
“Nurses in aged care have a much heavier workload as they will see around 90 residents over the course of an evening shift. That would never happen in the hospital system.”
Ms Chaperon pointed out the many benefits of trade union membership (including professional development, legal services, conferences and more), which may have also contributed to the increase.
“There are so many services that are beneficial to nurses- the union is not just for when you are in trouble.”
The ANF expects that they will meet with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her ministry to discuss aged care issues in the upcoming weeks.
“We will be seeking to discuss nursing hours and getting the right balance of skills in aged care,” she said.
“We also want to talk about wage parity with the public sector and the national licensing system for assistant nursing.”
The union will seek to ensure that nurses and midwives are represented on each and every local hospital board under Labor’s health restructure; that modern awards be reviewed on application; that federal government funding remain transparent; and for aged care funding to be reviewed.
“We want to further the discussions that we started in the Labor party’s first-term of government.”
