OPPOSITION CALLS ON O'FARRELL TO SUPPORT EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN
This media release has just gone out:
The NSW Opposition
has called on the O'Farrell Government to withdraw its submission to Fair Work
Australia opposing equal pay for women and better wages for community workers.
"The Government's
position on this issue is a slap in the face for women and community services
workers in NSW," said Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations and Shadow
Minister for the Status of Women, Sophie Cotsis.
"Barry O'Farrell
has sent a message to every woman in NSW today - this Government doesn't support
pay equity for women."
Ms Cotsis said the
O'Farrell Government is seeking to block an attempt by the Australian Services
Union to improve wages and conditions for workers in the community and social
services sector – 87 per cent of who are women.
"The O'Farrell
Government has gone out of its way to try to derail this case, a case that could
see 30,000 workers in NSW better off," she said.
"Community services
workers, charity workers, child protection workers and disability support
workers care for the most vulnerable in our society and today they have been
betrayed by the Premier of NSW.
"I am calling on
Premier O'Farrell to withdraw the Government's submission immediately, and give
the female dominated community services sector a chance at better pay.
"Mr O'Farrell
should admit the Government made a mistake and reverse his opposition to equal
pay for women."
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Comments
Mon, 02/05/2011 - 4:19pm
...for getting the message out. More women than men work in Community Services but they are ALL underpaid. It says volumes about the value placed on the work done in the Community Service field and also on the value that the Governments place on the value of our most disadvantaged residents, when low wages, and the opposition to any increase is the attitude. If you can't offer money commensurate with the work, you won't get quality workers.
Fri, 29/04/2011 - 8:54pm
Hi Penny, further to my previous comment, I'd like to ask if you're not disturbed by the statistic you've cited,- "community and social services sector – 87 per cent of who are women."
Do you support the idea that there should be an affirmative action plan to positively discriminate against female employment in the sector, in order to balance out the gender inequality?
I would very much appreciate your thoughts on the matter. Thanks again.
Fri, 29/04/2011 - 8:47pm
Hi Penny, Given that there are laws against pay inequality, I'm interested to know if you could give an example where a woman in NSW isn't paid the same as a man for the same work? Thanks very much.
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