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Thousands of community and disability workers will march through Sydney today demanding equal pay with their NSW public sector counterparts.
The Australian Services Union said employees working in non-government community services earn on average $20,000 less each year than those who work in similar roles within the public sector. Community & Disability Workers Rally for Equal Pay
Friday 7 August 2009, from 12noon
1:30pm march from Masonic Centre to rally outside State Parliament at 2:00pm
MEDIA CALL: 2:00pm outside State Parliament, Macquarie St, Sydney ASU NSW Secretary Sally McManus said today’s rally outside State Parliament would highlight the issue of equal pay in an industry that supports some of the most disadvantaged members in our community. “NSW social and community service workers are paid up to $20,000 per annum less than those in the NSW public sector and workers doing the same jobs in Queensland. “We should be attracting and retaining this vital workforce and growing the sector, rather than devaluing it through inequality and poor pay. “It’s time the state and federal governments got serious about supporting our community’s most marginalised and disadvantaged people by supporting the workers who care for them.” Ms McManus said other states are moving to recognise the work of the non-government sector while NSW continues to fall behind. “The Queensland Government has already moved to ensure its community and disability workers are given equal pay with the public sector, so there’s no reason why NSW shouldn’t be able to do the same.” Ms McManus said government support should come in the form of increased funding to enable NGO employers to pay their workers equivalent to the public sector, and NGO workers in Queensland. She said the ASU would be launching an equal pay case and was hopeful the State Government would support it. “The NSW Government says it is serious about helping our state’s most disadvantaged citizens, yet continues to outsource work to community organisations and charities who are expected to do the work at a discounted rate. This is no longer sustainable and workers will no longer tolerate being taken for granted. “When it comes to issues of child protection and care for people with disabilities, we should have a non-government sector that is first-class and pays its workforce accordingly.” Media contact: Claire Johnston, 0434 489 533 |
Care - community, advocacy, respect & equity 