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Around the networks:
ACOSS on the National Day of Action
ASU campaign for Equal Pay

On a cold, blustery Wednesday in Melbourne, thousands of people turned out to say now is the time for equal pay for community sector workers. It was an inspiring sight to watch thousands of community sector workers and their supporters take to the streets clad in their red scarves and beanies and demanding our state and federal governments commit the funds to pay for the outcomes ASU’s historic pay equity case.

It is a critical moment for the community sector in Australia. Fair Work Australia has already said that it agrees with the broad contention of the ASU’s case and that community sector workers have been historically underpaid in this country due to the workforce being largely female.

We know that FWA will make a determination that leads to pay increases for workers. With a final decision due anytime from the end of August, the only questions remaining, are how much will the increase be and what impact will this have on the sector.

A similar case for Queensland community sector workers delivered pay increases of between 17.5 and 37 per cent. If such a figure was replicated nationwide the cost to organisations will be massive. The only way this cost can be born is if governments commit to funding it. If not, the services that community sector organisations deliver will be at risk.

Community sector employees work with the most vulnerable people in Australia, in some of the most challenging environments and this should be recognised with adequate remuneration – to do this, government support is critical. State and federal governments need to act now to avoid a funding crisis in the community sector.

Governments have benefitted from the low wages of community sector workers for far too long. If the services that our organisations deliver were staffed by government employees on government wages, the costs would be a dramatic impost on the federal and state budgets.

VCOSS member organisations are acutely aware of the importance of this case and the need for their employees to be paid a living wage that is commensurate with the importance of the work they do. In this spirit a gathering of presidents and treasurers of sector organisations prepared a statement of support that was read by VCOSS President, Micaela Cronin, on the steps of the Victorian State Parliament to a gathered throng of several thousand.

It read:

The Presidents and Treasurers of the Victorian community sector stand alongside the ASU in support of equal pay for community sector workers.

The Presidents and Treasurers of community sector organisations are volunteers of all ages who come from across the community – we are CEO’s, accountants, bureaucrats, business owners, service users. While we are volunteers our employees are not! They should be paid fairly and equitably for the work that they do. Fair Work Australia has recognised that they currently are not.

It is time for Government to stand up for the workers and the organisations that support the most vulnerable in our community. The community sector deliver services on behalf of all levels of Government – it is now time for them to step up and fund us for the actual cost of our services!

So far we’ve heard all the right noises from politicians. In Victoria, Community Services Minister, Mary Wooldridge, committed to funding the outcomes of the case in an interview with VCOSS in the lead up to last year’s election. Likewise, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, Bill Shorten, committed the Government to funding the outcomes of the pay equity case in an episode of the ABC’s Q&A earlier this year.

It’s time for all politicians to put their money on the table. Community sector workers have waited long enough to be properly valued for their work. We have an opportunity to finally do so. It is an opportunity our nation cannot afford to miss.

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