Federal Member for Chifley, Ed Husic has welcomed the decision by Fair Work Australia which awarded pay rises of between 23 and 45 percent to some of the country’s lowest paid workers.
Mr Husic believes the wage case won the support of Fair Work Australia because of the overwhelming evidence of pay inequity in the Social and Community Sector.
“A lot of community workers do so much to help neighbourhoods in our area – and many of us believe these workers are so valuable to us all,” Mr Husic said.
“It’s why I was among a group of candidates who – at the 2010 election – was keen to sign a pledge to support the equal pay claim.
“Congratulations to community workers, and their union, the Australian Services Union, for their persistence and determination.
“This decision will give around 150,000 Australians, many of whom work with people with disabilities, counselling families in crisis, running homeless shelters and working with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
“Many of the people who were covered by this claim are either women or people are employed in professions largely dominated by women.
“This is an important first step for pay equity, advancing the cause of ‘equal pay for equal work’.
The increase will be phased in over eight years from 1 December 2012 and the Gillard Government has already committed to providing the Commonwealth’s share of the funding needed.
“It’s important that we value the work done by those in our community who often work with the most vulnerable. “Not only is this decision good for those in the sector, it will be good for our economy.”