1 February 2012: The Health and Community Services Workforce Council welcomes today’s community sector workers pay decision by Fair Work Australia.
In a landmark equal pay case, Fair Work Australia has ruled in favour of the Australian Services Union, awarding community sector workers pay-rises of between 19 and 41 per cent over the coming eight years.
The increases, starting from 1 December 2012, will impact on 150,000 community sector workers across Australia and will be in addition to any new wage rises handed out in enterprise bargaining agreements.
Workforce Council Executive Director Wallis Westbrook has praised the decision.
“This is a fantastic day for the community sector, its workers and all Australians who benefit from the vital services which it provides,” Mr Westbrook said.
“Over the coming years this will have a profound effect on not only the wages of those employed within community sector roles, but the sector’s ability to attract and retain a large enough workforce to deliver the services our communities need.”
“We are also very pleased by the Federal Government’s strong commitment to backing these increases, through the allocation of a $2 billion funding package.”
The new national pay scale aligns closely with a similar pay equity ruling by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission in 2009, which awarded pay increases to Queensland’s community sector workforce with the support of additional funding by the Queensland Government.
For more information on the Fair Work Australia decision visit www.fwa.gov.au
