Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

Victoria’s Disability carers protest for better pay

HACSU Media Release

Work bans and community protest action will escalate this week throughout suburban and rural/regional non-government disability services as workers put their case for improved pay, training and safer workplaces.

Disability Carers across Victoria have been taking industrial action for several weeks in support of their claims for a new enterprise agreement, which includes claims for greater pay parity with their public sector colleagues. 

Following a breakdown in negotiations in the Industrial Relations Commission last week industrial action is set to escalate, starting with a protest rally at the electorate office of Community Services Minister Sherryl Garbutt on Friday 7 October.

Non-government disability workers are paid less than their colleagues who work in public sector disability services.  They work with low staffing levels and have significant health and safety problems.  The area has been identified by WorkCover as an OH&S hotspot.

Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) State Secretary, Lloyd Williams, said “compared to the same work done in the public sector, Carers in non- government services can be paid up to 30% less”.

“This is widely recognised as the cause of the recruitment and retention crisis”.

“Our ‘Path to Parity’ campaign is about improving quality of services through investing in staff.”

“Disability Carers work in ordinary community homes and perform a very difficult job.  Some employers exploit their compassion and refuse to properly reward them for their work”.

“These employers have received the funding to settle this dispute.  They refuse to pass it on to the Carers.  Any agreement should be a big step toward parity”. 

“It’s a question of the Government and employers getting together to provide the service standards for the disabled.  That starts with proper recognition of the workforce through wages and conditions for the Carers.”

The claim also involves improvements to staffing, health and safety and training.

Lloyd Williams said “the claim was receiving good support from parents, family and guardians of intellectually disabled Victorians”.

“Parents, family and guardians of intellectually disabled people understand very clearly that this is ultimately about the rights and services we provide to intellectually disabled people.”

“If we have a better trained workforce who enjoy decent conditions, then we will have people who will see this sector as a real career option, leading to improved continuity of care and better standards of care.”

“A lot of people leave the service as a result of poor safety, over-work through inadequate staffing and poor wages and conditions.”

Contact: Lloyd Williams, State Secretary, 0418 542 799 or
David Stephens Assistant State Secretary 0419 668 821.

Rally at Minister for Community Services, Sherryl Garbutt’s electoral office:

· When: scheduled for 11.30, am, Friday 7 October 2005. 
· Where: Corner Grimshaw Street and Plenty Road, Bundoora. 
· Lloyd Williams will address the rally and will be available for interview.

HACSU is prepared to take interested media out to services where they can meet staff and get to understand their predicament.

 


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