Community workers to send Julia Gillard kisses in bid for equal pay

11 March 2010

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be asked to champion a ground-breaking Equal Pay Test Case for community workers with the launch of a new campaign aimed at closing the gap between men and women's pay in Australia.

Late last year the Deputy Prime Minister made an historic deal with the Australian Services Union (ASU), agreeing to support community sector workers in an equal pay test case with Fair Work Australia.

In a new push dubbed Pay Up - No More Lip Service To Equal Pay, Australians will be asked to send Julia Gillard postcard and video messages, inviting her to take the next step and champion funding for equal pay should the test case succeed.

Community sector workers will kick off their Kisses to Canberra  on Thursday March 11, marking the beginning of the equal pay test case with Fair Work Australia.

>> Visit the campaign website by clicking here and
>> send your kisses to Canberra to support the campaign. 

The ASU, which represents more than 100,000 community workers nationwide, will be arguing that low wages in a feminised industry like the community sector be brought into line with the pay rates in a similar male dominated industry.

ASU Assistant National Secretary, Linda White said the test case was an opportunity for the Labor Government to take action and close the gender pay gap.

"It's hard to believe that in this day and age Australian women, on average, are paid 17 per cent less than men," Ms White said.

"The pay gap is so big that on average Australian women have to work 63 days more a year just to earn the same income.

"The problem is generations of politicians have played plenty of lip service to equal pay but not enough has been done to bring women's wages up to scratch.

"The Federal Government have an opportunity to change that and help improve the lives of thousands of working women right around Australia.

"Ultimately, that will be the real test for the Government, whether it will make the funds available to allow for workers in the community sector to achieve wage justice without being forced to cut staff numbers or resources.

"That's why we're asking the Deputy Prime Minister to convince her colleagues to bring community workers' pay up and put an end to lip service to equal pay.

"Workers in the sector affected by the case include those employed in women's refuges, family support services, drug and alcohol services, migrant resources centres and many more."

For more information please go to www.payup.org.au or call Tim Fitzsimmons (EMC) 0423 375 522.