A new Enterprise Agreement has been voted up at Southern Cross Care.
88% voted ‘yes’, and 12% voted ‘no’. 70% of employees voted.
The new EA will secure backpay of 3% from 1 December 2025 and then a further wage increase of 3.5% from 1 July 2026. Importantly, we succeeded in bringing forward future wage increases to July each year rather than December. This means workers get the benefit of a negotiated wage increase earlier.
In addition, SCC will pay a $500 (pro rata for part-time) sign-on bonus.
HACSU has negotiated the staggered payments of the backpay and bonus in order to lessen tax deductions.
The backpayments and bonus won’t be paid until after the Agreement is approved at the FWC. This usually takes several weeks.
We’ll be back at the bargaining table in a year, so remain active and vigilant – we’ll need member power to push for an even better deal in a year’s time.
We congratulate members for again being the most powerful force at SCC and demanding a better deal than the one first offered.