Pay Equity
VCOSS Pay Equity campaign
VCOSS strongly supports the principle of equal pay, and seeks full funding for the outcomes of the Pay Equity case, in order to protect services to vulnerable Victorians. People working in the community have historically been underpaid, primarily due to the majority of workers in the sector being women. This case seeks to redress that imbalance. The Pay Equity campaign is being lead by the Australian Services Union and supported by many community sector organisations.
The VCOSS Board passed the following resolution in support of the Pay Equity case:
- VCOSS recognises the significant challenges in workforce planning development across the community services sector.
- The current national Pay Equity case being run by the Australian Services Union offers a generational opportunity to improve the pay levels in the sector.
- VCOSS strongly supports the principles of equal pay, and seeks full funding for the outcomes of the case, in order to protect services to vulnerable Victorians in the event that a significant outcome is awarded.
The Pay Equity case could significantly help secure the future of the sector and enhance high quality services for Victorians into the future. If supported by Fair Work Australia, the case will have multi-million dollar implications for government funding and implications as to how organisations will manage new costs.
VCOSS has welcomed the commitment of the Victorian Government and the Victorian Opposition to fund the full outcomes of the Pay Equity case. At this point it is unclear whether all government funded organisations and services will be covered by these commitments. VCOSS is working with all parties to clarify the details of their commitments and will work with ACOSS in seeking an indication from the Commonwealth Government.
Support Pay Equity
How?
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VCOSS encourages your organisation to support pay equity for the social and community and services sector by:
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VCOSS Pay Equity forum
The VCOSS forum on Pay Equity was held on Wednesday 16 June at the Scots’ Church Melbourne.
Presentations
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Presentations from the following speakers are available: |
Pay Equity case
History
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On May 6 2009, The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) made a historical determination to award significant wage increases to Queensland Community Services and Crisis Assistance Award workers on the basis of the Equal Remuneration Principles under the new national industrial relations legislation, the Fair Work Act (2009). |
Current developments
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Following the QLD case, a number of human service unions led by the Australia Services Union (ASU), lodged a national Pay Equity claim for community services sector workers across Australia at the national industrial relations body, Fair Work Australia. The case began with a Full Bench hearing at Fair Work Australian in Melbourne on 22 April 2010. A range of parties were represented at the hearing, including community sector unions, community services agencies, employer bodies, statutory bodies, and the Victorian, NSW and QLD Governments. ACOSS was represented, as was Jobs Australia. A Statement was produced following the first hearing detailing timelines for the case (another statement was issued to alter respondents’ timelines):
Fair Work Australia will invite public submissions to the case following these proceedings. |