Media Release
5th November 2009
Community Sector Agreement Welcomed The St Vincent de Paul Society National Council has warmly welcomed an agreement between the Commonwealth Government and the Australian Services Union to nationally address the low wages of community sector workers, 87% of whom are women. This announcement potentially paves the way for the funding of a significant increase to the wages of employees who are under the SACS award. National President, Mr Syd Tutton, said: “The St Vincent de Paul Society is a volunteer organisation. This is who we are. Our mission is to build a more just and compassionate society. We do this by taking the side of the poor and marginalised. We are called to do this by the Gospel. We are joined in this mission by paid employees across Australia, many of them also volunteering their time in unpaid work in addition to their duties. We value these employees as companions in our mission to the marginalised. We therefore welcome this historic agreement in which the contribution of these workers, most of whom are women, will hopefully receive greater recognition by means of an increase in funding.” National Council Chief Executive, Dr John Falzon, said: “It is up to all of us in the community sector to ensure that this translates into appropriate government funding measures so that workers are valued in their daily work with people who are pushed to the margins of society.” “We live in a time of incredible change. We are still feeling the effects of the Global Financial Crisis and many non-government organisations are still struggling as a result. Let us not forget that significant portions of the Australian population have been living in a permanent recession, cut off from opportunity and prosperity. It is a sign of a progressive democracy that we would, as a nation, seek to acknowledge those who have been there on the front line with them.”
Contact Dr John Falzon 0421332247