As a resident of Southern Cross Care, their family member or a member of our community, you deserve to know how staff working conditions are being cut by SCC management, because this will compromise residents’ care.
After underpaying staff by at least $6 million (including paying less than the legal minimum rate) and slashing hundreds of hours in kitchen rosters in several facilities across the state, SCC now want to take away workers’ paid meal breaks too.
These workers are paid as little as $23.38 an hour, and they are so overworked because of short staffing.
Removing paid breaks means staff are going to lose 30 minutes’ pay for each shift, which will add up to as much as $2950 a year. It is too much for low-paid workers to lose.
Also, unpaid breaks mean there will be fewer staff on the floor to support residents during meal times in the already understaffed facilities. Residents would have to wait longer if they need care.
Aged care workers love their job and want to give residents the best care possible, but they can’t bear more cuts to their wages, and residents will be at risk if more workers leave the industry.
Staff at SCC are left with no choice but to take industrial action to get SCC to listen.