Health and Community Services Union

Health and Community Services Union members working in the non-government disability sector will be marching in support of Equal Pay at Federation Square tomorrow along with a range of other unions.

HACSU members are calling on the Brumby Government to fund the outcome of the Equal Pay case currently being heard by Fair Work Australia.

The Equal Pay case is a challenge in Fair Work Australia to the wages attached to the new community sector award on the basis of gender equity. Unions are arguing that the wages are low because the sector is predominantly female and paid less than others working with similar qualifications in male dominated industries.

In Australia women are still paid 17% less than men on average.

"It is clear that caring work is undervalued in Australia because historically it has been considered the work of women," said HACSU State Secretary Lloyd Williams. "The Equal Pay Case is a historic opportunity to address this imbalance and recognise the incredible contribution that these workers make to the lives of some of Victoria’s most vulnerable citizens."

Disability Support Workers in the non-government sector are paid between 17% and 30% less than their colleagues in the public sector who do the same work and have not suffered the same undervaluing.

"We are using this rally to call on the Brumby Government to support the case and commit to funding the outcome of the Equal Pay case," said Mr Williams. "The state government provides the bulk of the funding for Community Sector Organisations and without this commitment the Fair Work Australia ruling will have little impact."

The Rally will be held tomorrow from 11am at Federation Square and will be followed by a march to Parliament House.