Community workers' pay fight
WORKERS from The Family Centre at Tweed Heads have come out in support of their fellow community sector workers to fight for a pay rise.
They will join hundreds of community workers at a rally for equal pay tomorrow in Lismore.
Last week, disability support workers claimed they were paid up to a third less than their equivalents in local and state government.
Manager of community projects for family services Colleen Dowd believed the disparity in wages came down to the majority of community sector workers being women.
“Our industry also consists largely of people in roles that involve commitment and compassion,” she said.
“This makes it harder to take action as we care about the impact on our clients.”
Fair Work Australia recently reached the decision community sector workers were underpaid, largely because they were women.
Community workers said the decision had given them hope, but they wanted to see the money.
According to Northern Rivers Social Development Council CEO Tony Davies, Fair Work Australia's acknowledgement of the disparity will support the claims of workers in vital services around the region for a substantial pay increase.
