Community workers rally in support of pay equity case: unions call on Govt to fund pay rises
15 December, 2010 | Media Release
State governments and employer groups must not stand in the way of equal pay for social and community sector workers following the Federal Government’s clarification of its support for a landmark test case.
Community service workers and unions will rally across Australia today in support of a landmark equal pay test case for the sector.
The Gillard Labor Government has provided important clarification that it will fund the outcome of the case being heard in Fair Work Australia, and now the states should do the same, said ACTU President Ged Kearney, speaking at a rally in Melbourne today.
She said the new Baillieu Government in Victoria was yet to give a commitment that it would maintain the previous Labor Government’s pledge to fund a pay rise, Ms Kearney said.
She said that following clarification of the Australian Government’s position in a letter to unions, opposition from employer groups was now the biggest obstacle to a just outcome for about 150,000 workers in the sector.
“We are pleased that the Gillard Government has reaffirmed its commitment to pay equity for women by clarifying its submission to Fair Work Australia,” Ms Kearney said.
“The submission was ambiguous and led to union concerns the government was using Budget grounds to back away from the chance to create a lasting and landmark reform of the gender pay imbalance in Australian workplaces.
“Unions raised these concerns at senior levels of the Government and this has resulted in a statement from the Government that Fair Work Australia should not be overly-influenced by the Budget impact when making its decision.
“This case is about justice and equity to overcome a gender pay gap that can no longer be tolerated.
“We understand that the Gillard Government must make decisions about balancing the Budget, but these are important principles that must over-ride any short-term Budgetary considerations.
“Workers in the predominantly female social and community sector have been underpaid for far too long and Labor Government support will help to redress the longstanding under-valuation of women’s work and the gender gap that worsened under the Howard Liberal Government.”
Ms Kearney said workers in the sector and unions were now looking for a similar commitment from State Governments, in particular the Baillieu Government in Victoria.
“Before the recent Victorian election, the Brumby Government made a funding commitment to increase pay for community sector workers.
“We expect the new Baillieu Coalition Government to match that commitment and meet the full cost of the equal pay case, but the early signs are not encouraging.”
Contact Details
Mark Phillips
Ph: 0422 009 011
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