National DAY of Action

Big business wants to cut your pay. We'll protect Equal Pay and win the pay rises we deserve. 

On Thursday 23 October, ASU members will rally across the country for a National Day of Action to say:

  • No pay cuts – Protect Equal Pay! 

  • Community and Disability workers deserve pay rises now! 

  • Big business should get their hands off the community and disability sector! 

Why we’re taking action 

In 2012, ASU members won Equal Pay after years of determined campaigning. We lifted wages by up to 43% across our sector and exposed the historic undervaluation of our work. 

Now Equal Pay is under threat. 

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is reviewing the SCHADS Award (Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award). The Award sets out the pay and conditions for workers in our sector. 

They have proposed scrapping our current pay structure and replacing it with one borrowed from another sector. This means 3 in 4 workers would get a pay cut. 

Here’s what this looks like:

- $930 weekly pay cut – Sexual assault counsellor 

- $554 weekly pay cut – Case manager 

- $315 weekly pay cut – Youth worker 

- $179 weekly pay cut – Disability support worker 

Instead of backing frontline workers, the Australian Industry Group (AIG) – who represent big business – is urging the Commission to go even further and scrap Equal Pay. 

We won’t go backwards. We won’t let big business dictate the future of our sector. 

We need to protect Equal Pay – and win the pay rises we deserve that finally recognise our skills, professionalism, and the complexity of the work we do. 

Fill in this form to register for the National Day of Action on October 23

How to get more involved

We won’t stop campaigning until we get the recognition and respect we deserve.

Stay involved in the campaign: Download our campaign materials and talk to your workmates about the campaign.

Ask people to join the ASU! The ASU is the largest union for social, community and disability workers in Australia. When you join the ASU, you’re joining 130,000 union members working together to make our workplaces and communities better.