On Thursday, I was one of the thousands who attended the national day of action on equal pay. I’m an ordinary woman struggling to pay the bills on the modest wage I receive as a community development worker, a job I’ve been doing for 25 years.
As I stood on the stage at Sydney’s Town Hall in front of thousands of equal pay supporters yesterday, I reflected on just how significant that moment was. At that moment I was part of history in the making, participating in the biggest national day of action on equal pay since the 1970s. I might be one of many, but together we can’t be silenced or ignored.
I work in a Neighbourhood Centre in the outer suburbs of Sydney. It’s a place where everyone is welcome. The people that live in my community, who come to our centre are often on the ‘outer’. They come to us for all kinds of reasons. On any given day, on top of my planned groups and activities, I deal with people who have been evicted; people who are in crisis; people who are afraid, hurt, and alone. I help them to make things a little bit better.
So yesterday’s day of action was about showing support for people like us and recognising the value in the work that we do.
People marched in the thousands all around the country, in the biggest cities and the smallest towns – men and women, young and old, from all walks of life. Many who fought for pay equity more than forty years ago were still marching. And will continue to do so, until the wage divide is addressed. It was heartening, too, to see so many younger generations taking part. We’ll always need community workers, and young people are now taking the baton to fight for equal pay.
2010 is our year. We’re taking strong action for equal pay – taking it all the way to Canberra. We’re lodging a court case, a test case with Fair Work Australia to prove that we’re underpaid. The figures are there in black and white: women are paid, on average, 18 per cent less than men. And the pay gap is getting wider. We’re asking for a wage increase to bring community sector wages in line with comparable skills, qualifications, experience and responsibilities in other workplaces.
It’s only fair.
So this year we’re going to make history – not just for the 200,000 undervalued and underpaid community workers in this country, but for all working women across Australia. And I invite you to join us.
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Comments ( 1 Comment )
Thanks Maree – I know your sentiments reflect those of many!
Brigid Marasco added these pithy words on
Jun 15 10 at
5:17 pm
