It may be hard to believe in the year 2010, but on average Australian women are paid 17 per cent less than men when wages are averaged – based on ABS data.

The pay gap is so big that on average women have to work 63 days more a year just to catch up on that income.

There are many reasons for this gap – one of the major reasons is that areas of the workforce where women predominate, such as the community care sector, are paid lower wages than average.

On Thursday 10 June workers from around Australia gathered to support the cause of equal pay for equal value – pay equity.

Community sector workers are bringing an equal pay test case before Fair Work Australia.  This will help determine whether 200,000 workers get the right to pay equity.

These workers often have jobs that are identical to those of state government workers in the Department of Communities, but they are paid far less for the same work.

The Queensland state government already supported a successful equivalent test case before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission – now the push is on to have the same win apply nationwide.

But the test case alone won’t be enough – we need to pressure state and federal governments to fund the community sector so they can pay their workers fairly.

QPSU members supported the Brisbane rally at Emma Miller place.

If you didn’t make the rally, don’t worry – you can still support the cause for equal pay.  Go to www.payup.org.au to send a postcard to federal industrial relations minister Julia Gillard, to ask for her support in campaign for pay equity.

If you have your pictures or feedback from your own Equal Pay celebrations, you can email them to Vivienne@qpsu.org so we can post them here.