Standing together at Umina Park

THERE'S a saying that goes, individually we are one drop, together we are an ocean, and this was never more relevant than at Umina Park recently.

For some time individuals at Umina Park had gone to management and told them the workload was too much, that more staff were needed and that something had to be done to fix the low morale within the workplace before it risked compromising the care of residents. It wasn't until HACSU members decided enough was enough and that something had to be done together that many of these concerns started to be addressed. Members decided they would take their plea to the community via social media promotion, community letter boxing, holding signs out the front of the facility calling on OneCare to do better, radio stories from staff members and newspaper stories and other media coverage. The community took note and management listened and, while staff didn't get everything they asked for, they were able to achieve extra care hours across the facility, 30% of casual staff became permanent, and recruitment is continuing. Most importantly, it forced management to address many issues they originally claimed didn't exist in the workplace and they also now know members will continue to make noise until they are heard. Well done to those union members who put their faces and voices up front on behalf of all who work at Umina Park - them standing together made the community want to fix the issues that staff within the facility were having, but it also became a timely reminder to all communities that aged care needs fixing NOW!