“LOW PAID CARE FORUM – INSECURITY OF EMPLOYMENT IN HUMAN SERVICES” – University of Sydney

I have recently attended this forum (18 October 2011) on workforce issues affecting the third sector at Sydney University. There were speakers from the Union, Academia and the NGO sector and this is a summary of the main points discussed.

Australian Services Union – Presentation

• The Equal Pay campaign is a response to the employment insecurity faced by the sector
• Background: our campaign was boosted by the decision of the Queensland Government to increase Community Sector funding to achieve equal pay. This also triggered the National Case
• Fair Work Australia is currently processing the case
• The Equal Pay case has two aspects: the political one and the legislative context.
• The community sector is a highly feminized industry compared to others
• The following actions and tactics were conducted as part of the campaign: evidence was collected; “Send a kiss to Julia” cards; and comparing incomes in the public and community sector for similar work.
• The May decision was only half a win confirming that gender is a major issue influencing wage disparity. The other half is getting Governments (Federal and State) to agree to funding the wages upgrades.
• ASU is providing free membership to students

UNITED VOICE – presentation

• Presentation focused on the experience of those cared for in aged care and child care facilities – ECEC
• The main feature of this industry is low pay
• In Aged care, workers are paid $16 to $19 an hour
• The vast majority work part time with high levels of turnover – for example, In ECEC – one third of the workforce – leave the industry every year
• This is skilled work that is not recognized as skilled and not remunerated according to skill levels. Most workers in the aged care industry have certificate III – level qualifications.
• Insecurity: for aged care and ECEC low pay is the major cause of insecurity because workers cannot afford the basics and need to work additional jobs
• In aged care, the high turnover jeopardizes quality care
• ECEC/Child Care – first five years are vital for development. High turnover is disruptive and impacts quality education

• Why are aged care and ECEC low paid?
1. Highly feminized industry
2. Perceived as low skill
3. Low level of union membership
4. Difficult to organize – large numbers of small employers

• Solutions
1. Union and community organizing to win professional wages
2. Professional wages will lead to higher quality care and education
3. Employers, care recipients, parents cannot afford to pay
4. Quality aged care and ECEC benefits all – Government needs to pay wages
5. Acknowledge that employers on their own cannot afford wage rises – need to be allies with them when approaching Government.

Gabrielle Meagher – University of Sydney – Presentation – “Care and Vulnerability to Poverty”

• Workers working with people with disability, old people and children concentrate the low wages in the economy
• In Australia most of the workers and carers are female
• State services provision has shrunk, services have been outsourced to the Non-for-Profit sector
• Undervaluation of care matters
• For care workers – as a matter of gender equality
• For people in need of care – care quality depends on the care workforce
• For society

Paul Falson – St Vincent de Paul – Presentation

• In our sector, Gender is the main issue
• Reasons: how society is structured
• Care has been commodified
• Who is designated as “spare”? the poor, the disadvantaged
• Social policy is shaped by a “professional discourse” which supports the idea that “people can turn their lives around if they want”. This implies that those that need “support” are somehow faulty/at fault and the work of those doing the supporting is devalued.

Miguel Ferrero