Pay disability workers what they are worth, AEU tells hearing
Many workers in disability services perform work comparable to that of teachers in special schools while being paid much less, AEU branch secretary Brian Henderson has told a Fair Work Australia tribunal.
Mr Henderson gave evidence on behalf of AEU members in disability services as part of the joint unions' case to Fair Work Australia for pay equity for social, community and disability workers.
The evidence came as the final stages of the hearing approach. Unions are looking to the precedent set by the 2009 Queensland Equal Pay case, which determined that there should be "equal remuneration for work of equal or comparable value" and led to pay increases of 18–37%.
Unions argue that the work had been systematically undervalued over time as a result of the largely feminised nature of the industry.
During cross-examination, Mr Henderson said that the vast majority of AEU members working in the disability sector possess at least a Certificate 4 qualification and some also have a degree and/or teaching qualification.
Many of the duties disability educators perform are similar to those performed by teachers in special development schools or teachers of Certificate 1 and 2 disability students at TAFEs and this should be taken into account when valuing their work.
The AEU's claim was not that these workers should be paid the same as teachers, but rather that they should be paid in accordance with the value of their work, he said.
The Coalition Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge has promised that her government will "be making financial commitments in our policies in relation to supporting that claim and if it's more than that, then we will be funding and supporting it,'' she said (The Age, 2 February 2011).
The case is now in the final processes of hearing evidence. It is due to conclude in mid-April with a full bench hearings for any final oral submissions.
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