Historic Equal Pay Agreement Reached between ASU and the Australian Government!

The ASU has reached an historic agreement with the Australian Government on EQUAL PAY for SACS industry workers. Full details of the agreement will be available the ASUWA website in the coming days.

In all other states and territories, this agreement sees all SACS industry employees transferred to the Federal system in order to achieve and enjoy the benefits of any win before the Fair Work Australia full bench. In WA, this is not the case.

1. Those organisations in WA that are Constitutional Corporations, or become Constitutional Corporations will remain in the Federal Industrial Relations System and receive the increased benefits.
2. However, for other organisations that are not Constitutional Corporations or cannot change status to become a Constitutional Corporation, we need to persuade the state Government to continue to provide funding to those organisations because they will fall outside of the Federal system, but will have been deemed to have met the test for the increases under the Equal Pay case. This will occur on 26^th March 2011. We must achieve that before then.
3. We will be asking our members, supporters and potential members to assist with this process of persuasion.

What are we doing in WA?

We will write to every employer asking them the following questions.

1. Are you a Constitutional Corporation?
2. If so, please advise us.
3. If not, please advise us.
4. If you don’t know, please contact us.
5. Will you show support for an Equal Pay Order which will bring increased funding for employees salaries and which will not affect the money available for your service provision?
6. Will you attend a meeting of the ASU and employers in your area to discuss the case and show support?
7. Will you allow access to workplaces or staff meetings to formalise support for the Equal Work, Equal Pay case?

Will you set up meetings for us with their boards to obtain written support for Equal Pay for Equal Work?

We will contact all of our members to:

We will contact all Peak bodies to:

1. Organise to meet with them and advise in detail of the case.
2. Seek written support for the case.
3. Seek access to organisations for affidavits as required.

We will continue to pressure the State Government to meet with us to reach agreement for a commitment to fund increases as achieved through the process by:

1. Writing to every Minister who has a relevant portfolio.
2. Writing again and again to the Premier and the Treasurer asking to meet and work a way forward in the matter.
3. Writing to every Opposition Member of Parliament seeking support and questions in the house.
4. Publishing the letters and their responses on our Website.

We will write to the employers’ representatives so that:

1. We can advise them of the Equal Work. Equal Pay campaign and the Heads of Agreement with the Federal Government.
2. Seek written agreement from them on certain facts so that there is no resistance that is unnecessary.

How can you help us to help you?

We are now into the third stage of our campaign to increase funding for an increase in salaries for you.  You can assist by:

1. Organising a meeting in your workplace and invite an ASU Organiser or Official to attend.
2. Asking a colleague to join the ASU. [Your fees are funding this case.] Get them to share the cost of the work with you.
3. Contacting Debbie Butler, Emmet Molloy or Pat Branson at the ASU office to organise information sessions or written material.
4. Signing petitions and pledges if required.
5. Writing letters or emailing if required.
6. Having a staff morning tea to raise awareness of our claim.
7. Keeping up to date with all of the information as it comes to you.
8. Putting newsletters and notices on the noticeboards at work.
9. Wearing stickers of support at critical times.
10. Coming to the union office for a day to help with phone calling.
11. If you are not a Delegate, offering to do the job with your colleagues or signing on to assist your current Delegate.

For further information or to organise a meeting, please contact your ASU in one of the following ways.

Emails: 
Pat Branson       This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Emmet Molloy   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Debbie Butler     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

By phone:
Pat Branson       0417 969 077
Emmet Molloy   0412 670 295
Debbie Butler    0401 109 011

Or ring our Member Service Officers on (08) 9427 7777 or freecall 1800 064 657.

November 4^th 2009