Murray Bridge workers encouraged to fight for fair pay

People working in community services in Murray Bridge will today be meeting over their campaign for better pay.

Australian Services Union Branch Secretary Katrine Hildyard will be visiting Murray Bridge today to meet staff from AC Care, Community Lifestyles, Kalparrin Community and other community organisations as part of the union's national campaign to fight for better pay for community sector staff.

"Someone helping people in crisis at a homeless shelter, or supporting a disabled person to get through their day, are not paid fairly compared with other people in our community.

"This is especially important for people working in our regional and rural areas, who often don't have the choices to look for other work that people in the cities do.

"For too long the community services sector - which employs 85% women and has the highest number of multiple tertiary degree holders - has been under-valued and under-resourced.

"People working in the community sector are a key part of the Australian economy and are at the forefront of delivering social inclusion to our country.

"Community and disability workers have some of the hardest jobs in our community, and many work tirelessly around the clock to support those most in need.

"They deserve to be paid fairly for the important work they do in country communities.

"This fight is about more than equal pay in workers' pockets today - it's also about sustaining a workforce for the future.

"As our population increases, we're going to need more community workers, not less, and we simply can't attract people and keep them when the wages are so low in comparison.

Ms Hildyard says the meetings in Murray Bridge are a lead-up to a National Day of Action on Pay Equity at 12.00 noon on 8 June.

FairWork Australia is now considering its decision on the Equal Pay Test Case brought by the Australian Services Union on behalf of more than two hundred thousand workers in the community and disability sectors. It is due to hand down its decision in the next couple of months.

For information and comment
For further information and to arrange interviews please contact Katrine Hildyard on 8363 1322 or 0418 847 865