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Winter 2005

Orana members get unionized and get results

HACSU members working at Orana have got themselves organised, increasing their bargaining strength through higher union membership, resulting in improved wages and proper classifications.

The push at Orana followed a takeover of the facility by Karingal Care.

Previously, there had been a lot of complaints by workers about their pay rates and classification structure. Many people were classified incorrectly and were consequently being paid the incorrect rate, not surprisingly, at a lower rate than they should have been.

Previous management were unresponsive to complaints, and issues never seemed to get sorted out.

Following the takeover by Karingal Care HACSU members sought meetings with the new management and won agreement to go through everyone's classification.

During the investigation it emerged that some people were not being paid their penalty rates and were being paid under different awards for doing similar work.

The new management agreed to pay any back pay owing, and the issue of long time casuals' claim to permanency is now also being looked at.