Equal Remuneration Case - Funding

16 January 2012
NSW Minister of Family and Community Services, Pru Goward MP has confirmed in correspondence with NCOSS that “the NSW Government would pay its share of the funding of any outcome from these proceedings”.

22 December 2011
Fair Work Australia (FWA) granted an application by the Australian Services Union (ASU) to delay the transition to the new classification structure of the Modern Award. The transition had previously been postponed to February 2012 and now will not occur until 1 July 2012. The ASU has subsequently advised its membership that it will use this period (the first six months of 2012) to assist them to undertake re-classification of their positions from the old SACS Award to the Modern Award so that they are ‘equal pay ready’ by 1 July 2012.
Download: Fair Work Australia’s Decision

6 December 2011
The NSW Government lodged its submission to Fair Work Australia responding to FWA’s request for further information which formed part of the Equal Remuneration Decision in May 2011. The submission raises a number of concerns which include: the likely budget impact; the financial modelling on which the Commonwealth’s calculations rely as well as its commitment to funding; and the need for both levels of government (but particularly the Commonwealth) to commit to sector workforce development initiatives that support the equitable objectives of the Equal Remuneration Case.
Download: NSW State Government’s submission to FWA

17 November 2011
The Australian Services Union and Federal Government lodged a joint submission on remedy to Fair Work Australia that re-affirms the Federal Government’s previously stated commitment to funding its share of any Equal Remuneration Order (ERO). In addition, the parties have responded to requests for further information by FWA which were included in its landmark decision of May 2011. Key matters clarified in these responses include establishing a formula for calculating the extent to which community work has been under-valued because of gender; recommending that FWA make the Order on the basis of pay rates equivalent to those awarded in the 2009 Queensland Equal Remuneration Case (paid as a percentage on top of the rates in the Modern Award); and detailing a process for implementing the ERO when it is made. That implementation process involves: a delay to the transition to the Modern Award classifications and pay scales from 1 February 2012 to 1 July 2012; payment on 1 July 2012 of the FWA’s Annual Wage Review; phasing in of the new rates of pay beginning on 1 December 2012 and continuing in tranches over six years.
Download: ASU and Federal Government’s Joint Submission to FWA  

10 November 2011
NCOSS welcomes the announcement by Prime Minister, The Hon Julia Gillard, MP to commit $2billion over six years to fund equal pay for workers who work with some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our communities.

The Federal Government and unions have agreed to make a joint submission in the Community Services Sector equal pay case which could see community sector workers get significant pay rises.

By committing to fund their fair share, the Federal Government has recognised the importance of the sector and its workforce in delivering support and services to those who need it. This is a significant development in what has been a long process. Now we need the NSW Government to commit to funding their fair share and to allocate money to do this. This would allow organisations in the sector to provide fair and equal pay for workers while ensuring that adequate funding is delivered in a way which develops and supports quality services for the people and communities that rely on them. 

Fair Work Australia is still receiving submissions from States and Territories and hearings of the case continue on 7-8 December 2011. A number of employer bodies represented in the case are more supportive but some are still opposed. A decision is expected in late December.

14 June 2011
On 16 May, Fair Work Australia issued an initial decision in the equal remuneration case for social and community sector and disability workers. The decision found that workers in our sector do receive unequal remuneration compared to equal or comparable work undertaken in state or local government; and that the pay disparity is largely due to the predominantly female workforce in the community sector. FWA called for further evidence and added a new round of hearing dates in early August.

Meanwhile, we still have no firm commitment to fund pay equity from the Commonwealth or NSW Governments. This is of great concern, not least because both the Commonwealth and NSW Governments are such significant funders of community services through contracts and other funding relationships. The Commonwealth Government also allocates funds to the states who then also administer funding to the sector. ACOSS and NCOSS have also been calling for a commitment on industry support for those organisations receiving little or no government funding, but who are part of the great value of the community sector and will be affected by the case just the same.

We must maintain the pressure for commitments to fully fund equal pay in the community sector. In particular, we are seeking a firm commitment for full funding from the Commonwealth and NSW Governments.

We need to hear the voices of employers who support equal pay and support the campaign for funding to cover higher wages costs in the community sector. And we need to hear those voices before the Commonwealth makes its final submission to Fair Work Australia on 30 June.

As part of this campaign for fair and proper funding we are asking all social and community services to write to their Federal MP and follow this up with a phone call to their electorate and parliamentary offices.

ACOSS has drafted a template letter that you can adapt, as well as talking points for the follow up phone calls. We will repeat this with State MPs in a few weeks time.

Australians agree: It's time to support equal pay for community sector workers  

Commonwealth's submission to Fair Work Australia 

Sector Statement of Support for Equal Pay

28 July 2010
ACOSS is co-ordinating the signing of a sector statement supporting equal pay for workers in the sector and calling for governments to commit to full funding for any increases awarded as a result of the Equal Remuneration Case currently being heard by Fair Work Australia.

NCOSS and many NGOs have already signed the statement and we would urge those organisations who haven’t already done so to add their name to the call for fair pay and full funding.

Does your organisation support equal pay for social and community sector workers? If so, then sign the sector statement on funding for higher wages. We are signing up organisations (not individuals) to this statement to show that employers support equal pay in our sector. If your organisation is not yet a signatory, please raise this issue with your employer or CEO.  

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