SUPPLEMENT TO THE AEU NEWS • APRIL 2010

A E U h e a d o f f i c e 112 Tr e n e r r y C r e s c e n t , A b b o t s f o r d 3 0 6 7 Te l : 0 3 9 417 2 8 2 2 Fa x : 13 0 0 6 5 8 0 7 8 We b : w w w. a e u v i c . a s n . a u

DISABILITY SERVICESNEWSLETTEREQUAL PAY bid to LIFT THE BARA union test case to raise the basic wages of low paid community workers could see wages rise across the disability sector.

Jo Fogarty vice president, TAFE and adult provision

THE AEU is involved in a joint union case to increase the base wages for disability workers.Unions have lodged an application for an Equal

Remuneration Order (ERO) before Fair Work Australia (FWA) — demanding equal pay for work of equal value, and arguing that the skills and professionalism of workers in the sector have been historically undervalued.

The application follows a successful pay equity test case in Queensland last year. Unions argued that social, community and disability services workers

were underpaid compared to workers in other industries with similar qualification requirements and complexity of work.

The hearing found that the social, community and disability sector was largely dominated by women, and that pay in the sector had not increased in line with more male dominated professions. It led to pay rises across the sector of 18%–37%.

The ERO builds on that case and seeks to increase award wages across the country to a level to match Queensland.

An increase in the award rates would have an impact on disability services workers who are not covered by an agreement and also for some who are.

For others with agreements, it would set a base to bargain against for the next round of deals — lifting the bar across the board.

The AEU is working with other unions to run the case and will also launch a campaign to lobby the State Government to honour the outcomes of the case and increase funding to the sector.

Contact your organisers if you’d like someone to come to your workplace and discuss these issues. ◆

THE disability services committee travelled to Ballarat for its March meeting, with over 20 members from McCallum Disability Services, Pinnarc, Stawell

Intertwine and Mulleraterong attending.AEU vice president for the TAFE and adult provision sector Jo Fogarty and

deputy vice president Mark Hyde joined organisers Kerry Maher, Meaghan Flack and Erich Sinkis to run the meeting.

They briefed members about the memorandum of understanding with VHIA, HACSU and NDS to pass on a 3.25% pay increase immediately (see story p.2) and asked them to follow up locally and inform us whether their employer was paying the increases and the back pay to July 1 2009.

The team also briefed members on the national equal pay case being run with the ACTU and fellow unions the ASU, HSUA, HACSU, LHMU and AWU to lift base wages in disability, social and community services.

The case is being supported by the Pay Up! campaign (www.payup.org.au), asking the public to send a kiss to Workplace Relations Minister (and Deputy PM) Julia Gillard with the message “No more lip service to equal pay!”

Members sent their own kiss to the DPM after watching a presentation on the case and discussing how we can campaign and lobby for funding to support any work value and wage decision from Fair Work Australia. They also discussed the National Day of Action on June 10 — more on that soon.

AEU disability committee will continue to alternate its meetings between the AEU office in Abbotsford and regional venues across the state — for details of upcoming meetings, go to www.aeuvic.asn.au/disability. ◆

Ballarat SENDS A KISS

2 Disability Services newsletter | april 2010

Meaghan Flack disability services organiserKerry Maher disability services organiser

THE AEU has signed a Memorandum of Under-standing (MOU) to deliver a 3.25% pay increase

to members working in day services.The MOU is an agreement between the Victorian

Hospital Industries Association (VHIA), the National Disability Services (NDS), the Health Services Union (HSUA) and the AEU.

It delivers a 3.25% wage increase backdated to July 1, 2009 and runs through to July 1 this year.

The MOU is the product of joint union/employer discussions over several months. It was signed in mid-march and VHIA alerted its employer members soon after.

This MOU is signed by the AEU and the employer representative bodies and while the employer representatives agree in principle that the wage increase should be passed on, it is up to the

employers to do so.Many have already done this, and their

employees have received their back pay, according to the reports we have received from members in a number of services.

However, we would like to hear from members in every workplace whether the pay has come through or not.

The AEU has drawn up a table of all of the various agreements across the sector and their pay levels with an additional 3.25% added in, to help you with the calculations. Members — and employers — can contact us to find the right rates for their workplace.

If members are not receiving their back pay and need some assistance, don’t hesitate to contact Kerry Maher or me, your disability services organis-ers. Email meaghan.flack@aeuvic.asn.au or kerry.maher@aeuvic.asn.au. ◆

Memorandum ends pay delayEmployers have agreed to pay members 3.25% backdated to last July — now we need you to let us know if they deliver.

Spreading the word at forum

ON APRIL 14, AEU sector leaders Jo Fogarty and Mark Hyde and organiser Kerry Maher attended the NDS Quality Forum to promote the union and liaise with members and managers in the disability sector.

The event was a valuable opportunity to showcase the wide range of AEU services including professional development seminars and up-to-date industrial information regarding the Equal Remuneration Order case before Fair Work Australia.

It was also a chance to spread the word to members about the MOU with employers and the 3.25% pay rise, with the AEU team handing out leaflets asking “Have you got yours? — let your organiser know.”

JO FOGARTY, Kerry Maher and I visited a workplace centre before our disability committee meeting

in Ballarat in Term 1. McCallum Industries was the place and the day services our first stop.

After meeting the management, we catch up with member Phil Cutts who gives us a guided tour, starting with the art studio. More Picassos here

than in the State Gallery, with both the staff and clients doing their bit for the fine art movement.

Time to keep moving. We pass the boys doing the rubbish detail — they seem to have that under control — and reach the cooking, health and wellbeing room. Stopping to chat to a group just back from swimming, I remember I haven’t had lunch and the bad news is, the kitchen is closed this late in the day.

Over to the fitness and recreation room — have those big fellows got a lot of energy or what? It’s nice now to sit and talk to some staff in the recrea-tion room as the clients wait for their pick-up.

Now we’re off to the employment services sec-tion and it’s straight to the shop — this is going to be dangerous; I think we’d better do the tour first.

In the assembly area they’re working on car seat child restraint components and tool boxes. Nice job — good jigs for holding the parts as well. As we move through the mail sorting section, I notice the modified wool press for the industrial rags; not a bad idea for a safe operation.

Back at the shop now — “Ollie’s Lollies” and a few jars of them will do, with a couple of bags of the lollies mix. Now that’s got lunch fixed! They’ve got the kids covered here at McCallum, from seat-belts to lollies.

As we leave, I notice once again an overwhelming sense of pride and commitment from the staff and the enthusiastic participation of the clients.

Please contact us if you would like us to visit your workplace. ◆

OPEN DAY at NorthernNORTHERN Support Services in Northcote

is holding an Open Day on May 18 to showcase their work. There will be information sessions, interactive activities, studio work-shops, exhibitions and performances.

The open day runs from 10am to 2pm with lunch and refreshments provided. NSS is at 30 Union Street, Northcote — call Marcela Salgado on (03) 9486 5077. ◆

Hungry for qualityA rumbling stomach couldn’t stop Mark Hyde being impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm at a Ballarat disability workshop.