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Summer 2003

Maranatha Changes Hands

The Maranatha Nursing Home, a 53 bed facility in Launceston, has been sold to the Launceston Presbyterian Homes for the Aged, with another Maranatha home in the South also on the market.

The two homes are being sold separately.

HACSU is currently negotiating a transfer agreement with the new owners, with most issues now agreed and only the matter of redundancy entitlements to be worked out.

The transfer agreement will protect members' existing wages and conditions.

HACSU organizers want to ensure members' years of service and therefore redundancy entitlements are not compromised by any changes in ownership.

HACSU members working at Maranatha are apprehensive about the changeover.

Zena Hall, who started at Maranatha on the very first shift of the very first day the home opened, is hoping the new management will respect the workers, as she believes the previous management did.

"Everyone is pretty apprehensive. We would like to have employment here until we retire. We could definitely do with a bit more funding here," Zena Hall said.

Sharon Sullivan is a veteran aged care worker, having worked at both Maranatha and Eliza Purton Nursing Home in the North West.

"I'm a very proud HACSU member," Sharon said.

"When there's been issues and I've needed help HACSU organisers have been straight to the point and made me feel comfortable."

"With the union they work as a team to support you and to make sure you have equal rights to everyone else."

"It's very important for people to be in the union and active."a