We're proud to announce another big union win for casual disability workers!

After a long campaign by HACSU members and officials, the Fair Work Commission yesterday ruled that all workers employed casually in social and community services (including disability) – are to be paid their 25% causal loading in addition to penalty rates for working on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

For the average aged care worker this equates to an hourly pay increase of $5.56, whilst the average disability worker will see an increase of $6.69 per hour.

The Commission made this ruling as part of the Four-Yearly Review of Modern Awards following a claim by HACSU that casual workers shouldn’t lose their 25% casual loading simply because they work or weekends and public holidays.

The increase will be applied to the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS) and the Aged Care Award and will also apply to workers covered by any enterprise agreement which falls below the Modern Award rate.

The full 25% increase will be phased in progressively, with 10% applying from 1 December 2019 and the remaining 15% applying from 1 July 2020. (These dates are currently provisional and may be subject to change).

“We're celebrating this fantastic win for all our members as well as the thousands disability and aged care workers across Victoria. These are some of the lowest paid workers in the State, working hard to supporting vulnerable Victorians. ” Said HACSU Assistant State Secretary, Paul Healey.

“HACSU members should be proud of these efforts in gaining this great win for workers in the disability sector across Australia. We need to continue working together to ensure that no one is forced into poverty due to casualisation of the workforce.”