
Issue No 117		26 October 2001

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

First Case Under NSW’s New Pay Equity Principle

Librarians are the first group of workers to test the New Equal Remuneration Principle in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

The claim lodged by the Public Service Association is for improved pay and better career paths for all Librarians, Library Technicians and Archivists employed by NSW Government bodies.

The PSA claims these jobs, which are predominantly done by women, are undervalued, and under the Equal Remuneration Principle there is a strong case for their upward revaluation.

The PSA is claiming pay rates which are consistent with pay rates in professions of similar training and education and in which men are predominant.

The PSA also claims the positions are inadequately defined and consequently are inconsistently graded across the public sector. The claim contains job descriptions for each level which will contribute to consistency across the state.

The PSA wants one award to replace the variety of awards and agreements currently covering the three classifications.

The Public Sector Management Office has lodged a service-wide counter claim for two awards, one for librarians and information workers, and the other for archivists.

The NSW TAFE Commission has also lodged a claim to cover its staff.

The case is now proceeding before a Full Bench consisting of the President, Justice Lance Wright, Commissioner Donna McKenna, Justice Trish Kavanagh and Justice Roger Boland in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. The President has allocated the hearing of evidence to Justice Boland.

Inspections at State Library, Attorney Generals Library, State Records and other places were conducted this week. Hearing of evidence will happen over 6 days in November. Final submissions will be made early in December. The decision is expected shortly thereafter.

The PSA's claim can be found on the PSA website - go to http://psa.labor.net.au/news/bulletin/20010321_lidawardmarch.html

The librarians were one of the seven occupations featured in Justice Leonie Glynn's Pay Equity Inquiry in 1998.

   Visit the PSA

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 117 contents

Interview: Brothers In Arms
Labour historian Marilyn Dodkin explains how she exposed ASIO ties with Labor Council's Cold War leadership.

Politics: Defending the Faith
Launching 'Brothers', Premier Bob Carr gave his own take on the allegations that union leaders worked with security agencies during the Cold War.

History: Surviving the Split
In this extract from 'Brothers' Marilyn Dodkin, looks at the manouverings around the establishment of the DLP.

International: Viral Attack
Postal unions in the USA are mobilizing to protect their members from the widening repercussions of an apparent bio-terrorist attack.

Unions: A Living Wage
The ACTU this week unveiled its claim for the 2002 Living Wage Case. Here's what they'll be arguing.

Campaign Diary: Week Three: Wave Them Goodbye
In a week when our boys and girls went off to war, Labor fought a desperate battle to fight the election on the home front.

Human Rights: Colombia's 'Dirty War' Against Unions
It might be tough being an organiser in Australia under the Howard Government, but spare a thought for Colombian trade unionists.

Review: Red Rag Unfurls
Ian Syson is an upfront, knockabout bloke. He heads up a new, small, independent publishing outfit called Red Rag Publications.

Satire: New Hope for Labor: Mackerras Tips Liberal Win
The electoral hopes of the Labor party have revived dramatically, after the perennially unreliable analyst Malcolm Mackerras forecast a huge victory for the Liberals.

» Unions Call for Air Price Floor

» With Friends Like the Banks, Who Needs Kiwis?

» Living Wage Claim For GST Rises

» New Compo Showdown Looms

» NIDA Tax Rorts Embarrass Howard

» First Case Under NSW’s New Pay Equity Principle

» Veil of Silence on Public Sector Outsourcing

» False Start for Race Day

» Union Proxy Campaign Gets A Boost

» Nauru Guards Claim Back-Pay

» Unions Await Final Triumph

» PM Claims No Aged Care Nursing Home Crisis!

» Eighty Woolies Cleaners About To Lose Jobs

» CFMEU Gets Disabled Athlete A Start

» Malaysian Solidarity Action in Sydney

» Activists Notebook