Employees of Lyndoch Living “feel as though they’ve had their wages sold up the Hopkins River”, the Health Workers Union says. Assistant secretary David Eden said employees in Warrnambool were being paid the lowest aged-care award wages in Australia and well below industry standards. He did not disclose the specifics of a proposed wage increase. He said more than half the staff were union members. “They (members) don’t take this action lightly,” he said. “They’re very very frustrated… they’re not happy.” A text message and letter sent to workers last week urged them to vote yes to protected industrial action, calling for pay to “catch up to industry standards”. Lyndoch Living chief executive Doreen Power said she would be unable to comment until the ballot results were returned. The ballot process would not be completed until September.
