Media release: HomeGround welcomes fair pay finding
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
Monday 23 May 2011
HomeGround welcomes fair pay finding
Melbourne housing and support provider HomeGround Services has welcomed Fair Work Australia’s (FWA) finding that Social and Community Services Award (SACS) employees are ‘generally renumerated at a level below that of employees of state and local governments who perform similar work’ and that gender, due to a predominantly female workforce, was a factor in creating the pay gap.
HomeGround supports the Australian Services Union’s (ASU) Pay Up! Campaign for equal pay and has encouraged its own staff to get involved in the campaign. HomeGround Acting CEO Heather Holst congratulated Fair Work Australia on its approach to the case and the ASU on its advocacy and the strong evidence it pulled together to support its claims.
“These preliminary findings from FWA are very welcome as we all know that housing and homelessness sector workers are underpaid. The next step is determining how to eliminate the SACS pay gap. Achieving fair pay is an important step in improving services and creating more long-term housing outcomes for Victorians who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
“The only concern now is that pay increases without equivalent changes to funding agreements could lead to reduced services. That means handing out more sleeping bags and more Victorian singles and families sleeping rough each night. I have confidence that local, state and federal governments won’t let this happen.”
HomeGround staff member and ASU delegate Emma Shaw said FWA’s findings vindicated the work she does to support vulnerable people to establish themselves in housing, improve their physical and mental health and start looking forward to the kinds of everyday aspirations others take for granted.
“It has now been established that SACS staff are underpaid compared with equivalent jobs in other sectors. Our work saves lives and it saves both governments and taxpayers a huge amount of money through preventative services. It’s only fair that we are recognised equally.
“Eliminating this pay gap will make a huge difference to me, my family and our quality of life. It is sad irony that many homelessness sector staff are at risk of homelessness themselves due to low incomes. I’ll also feel more valued and appreciated by the broader community once this injustice is fixed.”
More information: www.homeground.org.au / www.payup.org.au
