Relief for community service workers could be on the horizon with Labor promising to provide a ‘price floor’ if it wins the State Election.
Workers say a lack of Government funding has forced community services to either underpay their staff or cut vital programs. Labor says its commitment will ensure workers are paid fairly and that services aren’t tendered out to the cheapest subcontractor.
Branch Secretary of Australian Services Union NSW & ACT, Natalie Lang joined Deputy State Opposition Leader Penny Sharpe at the Koolyangarra Aboriginal Family Centre in Cranebrook on Wednesday to announce the commitment.
“We’re funded by Government to be able to do this important work to try and build social inclusion on behalf of the Government, citizens and society, yet what we are seeing time and time again are a tax on our services and neglect by Government,” Ms Lang said.
Ms Sharpe said “the scourge” of sub-contracting community services to underpaid workers must end.
“The last two years we’ve seen a very poor way of dealing with community services from a Government that isn’t about a civil society or the public interest, we’ve got a Government that believes that NSW should be run like a corporation,” she said.
Labor says if elected it will implement three strategies aimed at stopping the underpayment of community workers.
A graduate of Western Sydney University, Nicola Barton is a news journalist with the Western Weekender, primarily covering crime and politics.
