Community workers applaud Prime Minister’s latest commitment to equal pay
10 November 2011
By the ASU, the social and community services industry union for SACS wprkers
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has today made a historic commitment to equal pay for women by coming to an agreement with the Australian Services Union (ASU) on appropriate pay increases for low-paid community workers represented by the Union.
ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White said community workers applauded the leading role the Prime Minister had taken in seeking to deliver pay increases sought by the sector in the Equal Pay test case before Fair Work Australia.
“Today the Prime Minister recognises community workers’ long struggle to have their work given the value it deserves and their right to be paid fair and reasonable wages.
“Prime Minister Gillard has shown she doesn’t just talk about supporting equal pay for women, she acts on it.”
“On average, Australian women currently earn 18 percent less than men – it is the undervaluing of female dominated sectors such as the social and community services sector that has held back improvements to this pay gap, which has stood still for 30 years.”
Ms White said the Australian Services Union and the Commonwealth Government will now make a joint submission to Fair Work Australia on the pay rates they believe are appropriate to address the gender-based undervaluation of community workers. The Equal Pay test case is scheduled for final hearings on 28th November 2011, 7th and 8th December 2011.
“The pay rates we will put forward provide on average a 20 per cent increase which will align with the pay rises awarded to Queensland community workers in 2009 in their Equal Pay Case.
“We are now calling on all other parties in this historic case to also support these pay rates. We call on all community sector employers and all State and Territory Governments to stop their opposition and come on board.”
ASU members provide homeless people with a place to stay, they provide support to those with disabilities, they give families in crisis a place to turn and they play a vital role in the child protection system.
“Our ASU members are now asking their State Governments to step up and give them the recognition that is long overdue so they do not have to live on poverty wages, ” said Linda White.
http://www.asu.asn.au/media/sacs/20111110_payup.html
In the equal remuneration test case the Federal Government has secured a union agreement for a delayed start date and a six-year rather than a five-year phase-in.
The agreement with the ASU sees wage rises of between 18% and 37% – averaging 20% – over the phase-in period for some 150,000 employees.
ASU Michael Finn says SACS workers will receive minimum wage increases every July, and if all goes well, their annual test case increases in December, so most are to receive six-monthly pay increases until the new rates are phased in.
The ASU’s Sally McManus described the announcement as “massive” and the union was “90% there”. Read earlier on this blog Sally McManus ASU outlining the union’s strategy.
Gillard called on state and territory governments to fund their shares.
McManus said that NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell had stated his government would pay its fair share.
She is highly critical of Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu’s commitment of only $50 million a year, which is a “token effort”.
Labor committed to full funding, Queensland Anna Bligh, South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill as has ACT Katie Gallagher and NT Paul Henderson, while Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings says it supports equal pay but are not yet funding it.
WA had no formal position on the pay rises but allocated $604 million over five years for sustainable service delivery by the not-for-profit sector.
SACS workers and campaign supporters remain vigilant until the FWA order for increases occurs.
yraw voting-badge
No comments yet.