Sydney AiN Fane Poitaha was an Estia employee and NSWNMA member leader at the time.

She took part in the NSWNMA campaign to distribute the survey among Estia staff members.

“All NSWNMA members at Estia got a union email with a QR code that linked to a simple two-minute online survey,” she said.

“We distributed printed QR codes to non-members because we felt it was important to get the views of as many staff members as possible.

“In my former Estia workplace, close to 95 per cent of staff came from non-English speaking backgrounds.

“None of us disputed that we should speak English when working on the floor and especially in front of residents.

“But tea breaks are our own time – we don’t get paid for them. We should be free to speak our own language and not face retribution.

“While our survey was being distributed, the company put up notices in the tea rooms reminding staff they were not allowed to speak in their own languages.

“Usually in the staff room it was loud; everyone was talking, laughing and socialising.

“But when the company was pushing the English-only policy there was a big change in the tearoom, and not much chatter.

“Some people took their breaks off the premises because they did not want to get a warning.”