Finally, months after it should have, the Southern Cross Care Agreement is going to ballot. While this has been a very drawn-out and at times outright frustrating process, SCC told us yesterday that the access period for the agreement has started ahead of the ballot.

While SCC were trying to take away some of your vital conditions, you’ve fought for and defended paid meal breaks for shift workers, protection of current penalty rates and better casual conversion for permanent employees. The agreement has also maintained other conditions such as 20 days of personal leave.

The agreement now contains the provisions that were part of the settlement you voted on to lift the industrial action that was in place. Given recent developments with inflation, we believe SCC should have improved the wage increases, but they have not done this.

Here’s the voting process:

     
• The 7-day access period has now begun (You should have gotten the agreement by email)
     
• The voting period will start at 1.30pm on Wednesday 19 October
     
• The voting period ends at 1.30pm Friday 21 October
     
• Voting will be conducted by VERO and is a secret ballot
     

We encourage all members to have your say on your agreement.
      
We’ll update you once voting is completed. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please call HACSUassist on 1300 880 032.