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O'farrell Must Support Nsw Social And Community Service Workers

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The NSW Opposition has called on the O\'Farrell Government to work with the social and community services sector on Fair Work Australia\'s landmark equal pay ruling – as more than 3,000 workers protested outside Governor Macquarie Tower today.

Deputy Opposition Leader Linda Burney and Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations and Women Sophie Cotsis attended the rally and listened to worker\'s concerns about the O\'Farrell Government not recognising their equal pay case.

More than 30,000 social and community sector workers in NSW are affected by the case.

"Despite the O\'Farrell Government attempting to block the equal pay case with a submission to Fair Work Australia saying the case \'must fail\', Fair Work Australia has recognised that these important community workers are underpaid," Ms Cotsis said.

"The Premier must withdraw the Government\'s submission opposing the pay equity case ahead of further public hearings and sit down and actually discuss equal wages with social and community workers.

"The Government\'s first submission to Fair Work Australia was a despicable act by the new Premier to stop female workers who care for children, the elderly and the disabled from securing descent wages and conditions.

"It\'s now time for the Premier to stand up and give women in the NSW social and community sector a chance at better wages and recognition of their work."

Ms Burney said the Liberal Western Australian Government has committed to a 25 per cent funding increase for the community service sector following the Fair Work Australia ruling.

"This is an opportunity for the O\'Farrell Government to sit down and discuss wages with workers, non government organisations and service providers," Ms Burney said.

"The Fair Work Australia ruling is a historic victory for women in the social and community services sector.

"The NSW Labor Opposition is calling on the O\'Farrell Government to meet with these important frontline workers and discuss pay equity."