The head of Southern Cross Care says is being personally attacked and will not be stepping down as chief executive after employees and HACSU call for her resignation.
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Robyn Boyd said she she would be taking legal action against HACSU leaders for an "unwarranted, sexist, defamatory attack" against her and the board of SCC.
"We have continuously tried to negotiate in good faith with the union, but these personal attacks against my character and reputation must stop," she said.
Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) assistant state secretary Robbie Moore said the union would keep fighting for workers rights and was not scared of the legal action threat.
"Our legal team is looking at what they have said, and we will just continue to focus on the actual issues, fighting for our members to have safe staffing levels and safe working conditions."
Mr Moore said employees at Southern Cross Care (SCC) had voted unanimously for the resignation of their chief executive Robyn Boyd in a no confidence motion.
He said SCC is trying to cut wages of staff, by instigating a 2 per cent pay rise starting from October this year, instead of a back pay from January, and is also trying to cut paid meal breaks.
"It means they are getting a pay cut in real terms compared to an increase as cost of living rises, for petrol, groceries, rent and mortgages," Mr Moore said.
"Never has an aged care workforce in Tasmania voted to remove a CEO, but these workers say they have no choice other than to take this unprecedented step to protect workers and residents," he said.
"Southern Cross Care must listen to their staff, and HACSU joins their call for CEO Robyn Boyd to resign for the sake of workers and of residents and their families."
The call comes after various facilities run by the aged care provider have come under recent fire.
This includes complaints by carers at Glenara Lakes at Youngtown of understaffing, condition issues at Yaraandoo at Somerset, as well as SCC's own admission of $6 million in underpaid overtime.
Ms Boyd said she felt personally attacked by the latest resignation calls, alleging that HACSU union members were attacking her after sacking a former employee for elder abuse.
"They wanted that person to keep their job and I stared them down. They've never forgiven me for doing that and its led to these appalling attacks," she said.
"I understand the back and forth of industrial negotiations, but these constant, personal attacks, as well as being untrue, are hurtful, sexist, defamatory and disgusting."
Southern Cross Care also issued a statement in support of Ms Boyd, and said it wanted an apology.
"Robyn is one of the most well respected CEO's and aged care professionals in Australia, with a career spanning 20 years and over four research partnerships in published academic articles to inform best practice aged care practice," it said.
"She has made a real and positive difference to Southern Cross Care Tasmania, its care for residents and its standing in the community.
"Southern Cross Care Tas demands a public apology to Ms Boyd from HACSU, their withdrawal of this spurious 'vote of no confidence' and a stop to all future personal attacks on any individual Southern Cross Care Tasmania employee or Board member. "
Mr Moore said the proposed cut to wages and breaks for workers will go to vote on Friday.
"This would leave some already underpaid care workers up to $10,000 worse off over the life of the agreement, putting workers and residents in an even more precarious position, with fewer staff left on the floor to deliver care."
