Hundreds of thousands of aged care workers across three states could vote to take “unprecedented strike action” in protest at inadequate staffing and pay, with union officials declaring walkouts are almost certain in the final weeks of the federal election campaign.

United Workers Union members at Hall & Prior in WA have joined aged care workers in Queensland and SA in the endorsed industrial action at the five aged-care providers, with a ballot at Aegis and Regis in WA to also take place.

UWU aged care director Carolyn Smith said the strike action would represent the first time workers have taken national strike action in protest at their employers’ failure to address poor pay and staffing levels.

“When you talk to workers, the thing that really gets them down on a daily basis, is having to say ‘no’, from the moment they walk into the facility to when they leave,” she told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast.

Press PLAY below to hear more from Carolyn Smith on what the action entails