Challenging the ‘care penalty’: The Queensland pay equity campaign for community services workers

Abstract

In 2009, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission delivered a historic pay equity decision for the social and community services sector in Queensland. Employers were persuaded not to oppose the need for pay equity, and government – the major funder of the sector – was persuaded to agree to funding increases, as a result of a campaign coordinated by the relevant trade union, the Queensland Services Union, and the peak body representing the sector, the Queensland Council of Social Service. Informed by participant observation, interviews and documentary analysis, this article identifies key elements of the campaign’s success using the literature on union campaign strategy, especially studies of coalitions. The study contributes to the developing literature on ‘care movements’ and to knowledge of strategies for building and maintaining successful campaign coalitions involving unions.