Big Win for Community Workers in Victoria

In a big  win for community workers who rallied in Melbourne to demand equal pay earlier this month, Victoria's Brumby Government announced on the weekend that it would support "Pay Justice" for community workers in Victoria by supporting the sector's equal pay claim, which was lodged with the Fair Work Australia tribunal in March.

According to one media report, the decision is worth about $50 million is extra pay for those working in community jobs in Melbourne and around Australia, or the equivalent of an extra $1900 a year for each of 26,000 social workers and community service workers, most of whom are women.

In making the announcement, Brumby said:

"This emotionally taxing labour – often performed by women – is critical to the fabric of our community.  And the value of this labour is not always reflected in the pay they receive. In partnership with the community sector, we will work over time to provide the level of funding the sector needs to pay its invaluable workers, and get on with the job of caring for the most vulnerable people in our State."

“This is great news for the community sector . . . It tells tens of thousands of workers in Victoria that their work is strongly valued.  It also delivers certainty for VCOSS member organisations, in knowing that when pay rises are granted, they will be able to maintain their staffing and the diverse range of services and programs to vulnerable and disadvantaged Victorians.”