Tens of thousands of workers in community organisations around the country may be set to receive an unprecedented pay rise if a move by the federal government goes unopposed.
Prime minister Julia Gillard announced on November 10 that an agreement had been made with the Australian Services Union to submit a joint application to Fair Work Australia (FWA) to change the wage levels of approximately 150,000 employees in this sector by as much as 20 per cent.
The federal government is willing to commit up to $2 billion towards the changes and is actively encouraging the states and territories to step up and follow suit.
Pending on the approval from FWA, the changes could be applied to community organisations as soon as December 1 2012 and then be rolled out across nation within the next six years.
Speaking on the new agreement, Julia Gillard said that the government would work with the sector to strengthen and improve service delivery as well as reducing the red tape currently encountered by some Australian charities.
Gillard asserted: "The government will also increase funding under Commonwealth-State agreements that cover social and community sector employees.
"The phased introduction recognises the complex funding arrangements in the sector, which involve local, state and territory governments, not-for-profit organisations, commercial providers and the Commonwealth."
In the future this could mean that many charity organisations may have an easier time in sourcing experienced staff - with increased public awareness of the improved working conditions present in many nonprofit sectors.
