Unions are warning thousands of aged care workers could go on strike, in what’s being called unprecedented action.

National aged care director of the United Workers Union, Carolyn Smith, says it’s a tough, skilled and emotionally demanding job.

“We really seem to struggle to recognise that,” she told Scott Emerson.

She says the lowest aged care workers can be paid is around $22 an hour, and $25 an hour was considered well paid.

“Today workers in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia toko the first step towards industrial action and look it’s pretty unprecedented.

“Aged care workers very rarely take any sort of industrial action and certainly this action covers 7 providers and probably 10,000 staff.

So if they vote yes and that’s certainly the feeling that we are getting from workers that they will vote yes, this will probably be the first time it’s ever happened.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the union concerns and working conditions

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