Where's the care?

Fighting for fairness at Baptcare Karingal

Let's put the care back in baptcare

HACSU aged care workers at Baptcare Karingal Community in Devonport walked off the job for an hour on Wednesday 18 December 2024, to highlight their protracted fight for fairer wages and better staffing to combat high workloads.

The workers, who have not received an agreement pay increase from their employer since 2021, are frustrated with management’s refusal to address their concerns. Negotiations for a new agreement have been stalled, with Baptcare Karingal Community management repeatedly delaying the process.

When staff recently voted down a proposed offer that failed to meet their needs, management responded with a threat to suspend negotiations well into the new year (2025). This blatant disregard for workers’ concerns is unacceptable.

Workers at Baptcare Karingal Community are demanding:

  • A fair pay increase
  • Improved staffing levels
  • Reduced workloads
  • Respect from management

It's about time that Baptcare show their staff and the overall community that they do care about the safety and wellbeing of their staff and residents.

So we say to Baptcare: Value your hard working staff, and do what's right by giving them the pay rise that they deserve!

What's the issue?

Workers at Baptcare Karingal Community have not received a pay rise since 2021. During this time period, the average pay rise in the aged care sector has risen by 15%.

Baptcare did offer an insulting 2.5% increase without backpay that was flat out rejected by workers. Simply put, workers at the Baptcare Karingal Community have been left behind.

Baptcare's decisions have led to a flow on effect where the pay is not sufficient enough to attract additional skilled care workers. This has left the facility badly understaffed, whilst also leaving current staff overworked and overwhelmed.

Baptcare has shown no interest in addressing existing problems, nor addressing the concerns of their staff. During the 12 months of negotiations, Baptcare management kept delaying talking about these issues, and side stepping around any concerns.

What can be done?

You can raise awareness with your colleagues, friends and family by sharing this page with them. By doing this, you will be helping us turn the heat up on Baptcare management.

There has been plenty of media about it already, such as the following news clip courtesy of Channel 7, as well as this article in the Advocate (opens up in a new tab, paywall).

By getting the word out there, you can help show Baptcare that the community does care about workers and residents, even if management clearly does not.