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Summer 2006

Eliza Purton

Eliza Purton takes over Levenbank and Tyler Village

Eliza Purton Home for the Aged has taken over Levenbank Aged Care Home at Ulverstone and Tyler Village at Prospect Vale. Retirement Care Australia (RCA), who acquired them from the Salvation Army in July 2005, previously owned both homes.

RCA have guaranteed that existing staff will be retained.

Jim Toohey the CEO of TriCare, who managed the Homes on behalf of RCA, said, "a condition of sale for these centers is that the new provider will offer staff the same position they hold today under, at a minimum, the same terms and conditions as their current employment, while recognizing previous periods of service, including with the Salvation Army, where relevant." HACSU State Secretary Chris Brown says HACSU is happy with the way the takeover has been conducted. "In our experience Eliza Purton is a good employer. By working with the union they have ensured conditions, that would have otherwise been lost under the new industrial relations regime, are protected," he said.
Staff from Levenbank are also optimistic about the takeover. Cheryl Blair, an ECA at Levenbank, says, "It all remains to be seen, but we are positive about it and look forward to a good future. We also like the idea that Levenbank will be locally owned by a group with a commitment to the North West Coastal region."

A joint consultative committee has already been established at Levenbank and this committee will hook in with existing committees at other Eliza Purton Homes.

Staff will receive a 5% increase up front and again in July 2007 and 2008 as part of the hand-over agreement. They will also be covered by the new common law agreement currently under negotiation between HACSU and Eliza Purton. The agreement takes clauses from the old award and rights from the old industrial relations system, which would otherwise be lost as a result of the Coalition Government's new IR legislation, and protects them.

Staff at Levenbank have participated in a presentation on the common law agreement and feel that the agreement is a way "to put a stop to the erosion of our rights."

"There has been so much uncertainty for staff over the last twelve months, but we are a strong team here and we deliver a very good quality of care to our residents and we expect that to continue under the new owners," Cheryl said.