The Save Equal Pay Alliance was launched by the Australian Services Union, with over 50 community and disability sector organisations and peak bodies. We have joined together to save jobs, save services and save Equal Pay. We are committed to stopping over $500 million being ripped out of the community sector every year.
The vast majority of workers in the community sector are women, and for too long our work was undervalued and underpaid. In 2012, our sector won Equal Pay and pay rises of between 23% and 45%. Simple recognition of a historic injustice.
The Federal Government has not budgeted for Equal Pay after December 2020, when the Equal Remuneration Order supplementation fund ends.
We are fast approaching a funding cliff. After eight years of funding their fair share of Equal Pay, the Federal Government must not walk away from the community sector and from Equal Pay.
Our sector provides invaluable support to some of society’s most vulnerable communities. If the Federal Government does not act now and guarantee our ongoing funding; services and jobs will be lost and vulnerable communities who rely on our services will suffer.
We cannot afford to close the doors of women’s refuges.
We must not turn young people away from specialist mental health programs.
Our community services are on the frontline of the bushfire recovery effort – with specialised programs including emergency relief, family support mental health services and financial counselling.
We call on the Federal Government to Save Equal Pay – and to save tens-of-thousands of jobs and services across our sector and in every regional community.
We call on organisations, workers and the community to join us to Save Equal Pay. We have endorsed a series of regional rallies that will highlight the impact on jobs, services and the community. Please join us.
- Lismore 5 March
- South West Sydney (Bankstown) 17 March
- Newcastle 18 March
- Western Sydney (Penrith) 18 March
- Wollongong 19 March
- Canberra 24 March
This is a serious threat to the future of our sector. The Federal Government must act, and the funding must be secured in the Federal Budget.
We worked together to win Equal Pay, now we must fight to protect it. Every Australian community needs secure community services.
All the members of the Save Equal Pay Alliance must be Civil Society Compliant.