CPSU NSW members who were transferred employees to Aruma had their pay rates “grandparented” to the superior conditions of the previous Community Living Award (CLA). While this has been a protection from pay cuts, it has effectively resulted in a pay freeze for several years.
The sale conditions ensured that Fair Work Commission (FWC) annual pay increases would not be passed on to CPSU NSW members while their rates of pay were higher than the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry (SCHaDS) Award. This pay freeze is the direct result from the then NSW Liberal Government’s privatisation of the Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care Services.
CPSU NSW have been asking Aruma to pass on the FWC increase to all our members as we are all struggling with cost-of-living pressures.
Members who transferred to Aruma on Level 9 (and below) of the Community Living Award should already be receiving pay increases via the FWC annual review.
While some members saw a pay rise last year, there are still others who are paid $0.05 per hour higher than the SCHaDS Award. CPSU NSW has strongly advocated that FWC increases be passed on to all members as the community is facing a cost-of-living crisis.
Aruma says “no”. Not until everyone catches up to the SCHaDS Award. Aruma’s decision saves the company hundreds of thousands of dollars on its wages bill, while continuing to force you to have a pay freeze and struggle to make ends meet.
“Putting you first” and supporting you to live the life you want clearly doesn’t extend to hard working frontline staff.
Pay freeze lifted for some MSLs in Aruma
Some Manager Supported Living (MSLs) will have noticed that the 2025 FWC annual wage review has seen their pay adjusted by 3.5 per cent.
This pay increase for some MSL members is a welcome development during a cost-of-living crisis. This wasn’t just a gift to workers. As CPSU NSW is affiliated with the ACTU, its submission on wage increases to the FWC was an essential factor in securing pay rises for all workers in the federal system across Australia.
Unfortunately, if you were a CAR or MAR from the ADHC days, your wage will remain frozen until the SCHaDS Award catches up with the superior pay rates secured by the PSA when you were a government employee.
If you are a MSL who wasn’t a CAR or a MAR, and you were a transferred employee who has not received the 2025 FWC pay rise, CPSU NSW recommends you contact Aruma pay roll and make enquiries on why your rate of pay remains unchanged.
We’ve heard that some MSLs who did not receive the 2025 pay rise were successful in having Aruma payroll adjust their wages.
What’s next?
The vast majority of CPSU NSW members should receive a pay rise in 2026, via the FWC Annual Wage Review, once the SCHaDS Award catches up to your wages. CPSU NSW will be visiting Aruma workplaces over the coming weeks. We want to hear from members. Not only will we be visiting workplaces, but we will be having some combined meetings at other venues.
Keep your eye out for meeting invites! This is your chance to give CPSU NSW reps your views on working in Aruma.
Contacts
