Fair Pay and Conditions for a sustainable sector
A strong and sustainable community sector is in the best interests of all Territorians.
However, the hard truth is that pay rates in the community sector languish some 15 to 20% behind those available in government and the private sector. Staff turnover in NT community organisations runs at 35% annually – more than twice the national average.
At NTCOSS we are keenly aware that our member organisations experience considerable difficulty in recruiting and retaining quality staff, because of their inability to compete with the salaries on offer outside the sector.
The impact of the global financial crisis threatens to make life even harder for the most vulnerable people in our community including people who have no homes, those with a mental illness, and those who struggle with drug and alcohol problems.
Inevitably the economic downturn will see an increased demand for housing support, emergency relief, and other related services. NTCOSS will continue to lobby government and work through the media to ensure that the needs of the community sector are properly represented.
We will continue to pressure government for funding to enable organisations to offer a pay catch-up to their employees, and reduce the alarming disparity in wages between the community sector and public or public employers.
Additionally, we are negotiating with the NT Government around the possibility of implementing a portable long service scheme for workers in the community sector. Under this arrangement workers would continue to accrue credit towards their long service leave as they changed employers within the community sector.
Victoria and the ACT are both investigating the mechanics of introducing such a scheme in their respective community sectors. Here in the NT, people employed in the construction industry have had access to a portable long service leave system since July 2005.
We will continue to work towards improving the pay and conditions of workers in the NT community sector so that the most disadvantaged people in the Territory can continue to benefit from the range of quality service which our members offer.
If you want to know more about our work on this issue, or share stories from your organisation, please contact NTCOSS on 08 8948-2665.