
Issue No 58		16 June 2000

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News

Community Workers to Lay Siege to Parliament

By Noel Hester

Thousands of workers in non-government social and community services will be taking part in a statewide Day of Action on Friday the 23 June in support of funding for a new Social and Community Services (SACS) Award.

The Day of Action is part of industrial action by members of the Australian Services Union. Workers aim to highlight the valuable community work covered by the sector and the state of crisis of many services.

In Sydney a rally will be held at NSW Parliament House, commencing at 11am. Busloads of SACS members from Wollongong, the Blue Mountains, Gosford and Newcastle are expected to attend. Similar rallies have been organised throughout the state

SACS activist Mary Waterford says the dire state of the award has driven community workers to take what they see as a drastic measure in industrial action.

'My current position is valued under the award at $36,847. This is despite my 21 years experience and a degree. I am representative of the level of experience and skill that features in the sector. If I was in Victoria I would be paid $43,401 for exactly the same sort of work. In other states I'd be paid up to $56,979. A group home manager for DOCS earns $48,000 per annum. A DOCS caseworker in disabilities is paid up to $46,361,' she said.

The Community Sector covers non-profit community services for the aged, homeless, people with disabilities, young people, women and families in need. Agencies include Neighbourhood Centres, Group Homes and other services for people with a disability; Community Legal Centres; Family Support Services; Women's Refuges; Youth Centres and Refuges and Hostels for the Homeless. Most services rely entirely on government funding in order to operate.

For more information on what's happening in your area on the day contact the following SACS activists:

Inner-City (Redfern) Simon Williams 9699-1614

Fairfield Judith Brownhill 9757-2121

Penrith Maree McDermott, 4721-8520

Blue Mountains Siobhan O'Beirne: 4782-4155

Parramatta / Merrylands Mara Ochoa, 9637-1535

Campbelltown WILMA Staff, 4627-2955

Armidale Pat Schultz 6772-5852

Broken Hill John Caesar 08 8087-3919

Coffs Harbour Paul Sekfy: 6568-4040

Kempsey Kempsey Youth Refuge Staff 6563-1230

Gosford: Kim McLoughy 4323-2374

Illawarra Marlene McLear: 4296-7077

Lismore Anita Brown 6672-8114

Newcastle Dawn Lotty 9310-4000

Orange Wendy Fisher 6362-8290

Wagga Peter Paramore 62576639

Moruya Paul Henley 4474 5055

Bega Rick Anderson 018 557 528

Wagga Cheryl Fogwell 6332 1449

The raw deal

� Eighty percent of social and community services workers are women

� The average salary is $25,000 (the average Australian average worker earns $38,000)

� The NSW Government's refusal to fund services to meet award obligations undermines pay equity in this female dominated industry.

� NSW has the lowest award rates for Social and Community Services workers in Australia.

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  Issue 58 contents

Interview: After the Gold Rush
NSW building union leader Andrew Ferguson on life after the Olympics and why Che Guevara is his political hero.

Unions: MUA Women's Policy Back on Course
A hard hitting report by the Maritime Union's women's delegate Sue Gajdos prompts the union to, once again, promote its female members.

Politics: Raising the Rafters
Opposition leader Kim Beazley delivered a stirring address to last weekend's NSW ALP State Conference. Here's every word of it.

History: Time and Tide
Greg Patmore surveys the themes of Working Lives in Regional Australia in this introduction to the latest issue of 'Labour History'

International: Fair in the Land of the Free
More than 20,000 immigrant workers, union members and community and religious leaders packed a Los Angeles Sports Arena on June 10 in support of immigrant workers' rights.

Environment: Life's a Beach
Workers are invited to join an environmental campaign to protect the coastal communities and coastline from exploitation by multinationals.

Satire: More Pacific Coups Forecast
The popular holiday resort of Great Keppel Island is bracing itself for a bloody coup, following the rash of rebel uprisings in other parts of the Pacific.

Review: At the Barricades
Denis Evans' photo essay on the Patrick dispute captures the camaraderie on the Melbourne picket lines - solidarity that, like solder, welded workers and their communities together into a human barricade.

Crackdown on Fiji Workers Intensifies
Building Industry Braces for Post-Games Slump
Call Centre Battle Hots Up
More Sackings Spark Entitlements Showdown
Carr Establishes Labor Hire Inquiry
High Court Puts Workers At Reith's Mercy
Miners Hit the Streets Over Death Threats
Unions Urged to Reignite Republic Debate
Tips Rip-Off Sparks Hotel Picket
Community Workers to Lay Siege to Parliament
Water Workers Accept 14% Pay Rise
Counselling for Workplace Accidents
Korean Food Festival is Union Business
Che Helps Doctors Save Lives
Maude Barlow Public Lecture - Sydney June 27