|
|
Workers Rally For Equal Pay
10 June 2010
About 5.000 people chanting and blowing whistles brought the heart of Melbourne CBD to a standstill today as they marched in support of the campaign for equal pay for community sector workers.
The Pay Up! No More Lip Service to Equal Pay campaign is supporting the pay equity test case social and community sector workers being run before Fair Work Australia this year, led by the ASU. The case also involves the AWU, LHMU, HSU and AEU – all of whom were out in force at today’s rally.
The rally started at Federation Square, where speakers told the crowd the battle for equity for community sector workers would impact all women. It then moved through the city streets to Parliament House where a petition was delivered to Victorian politicians.
AWU Victorian Secretary Cesar Melhem described the case for pay equity as long overdue. “We have a group of predominantly women workers, at the very heart of our community, being exploited. This is the 21st Century and quite frankly, the situation is a disgrace,” he said.
Those in the community sector work in areas such as aged care, disability, domestic violence and children at risk. They will receive average increases of about 25% or $100 a week if the case is successful.
Cesar said the campaign for justice for community workers highlighted the gender pay gap across all sectors, which is currently running at an average 18%.
All electoral matter is authorised by Cesar Melhem, Branch Secretary