28 March 2002

Pay Equity Test Case gives library workers sweeping win

After a major Test Case, the first decision by the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission under the state's Equal Remuneration Principle today handed library workers a sweeping victory. And ALIA's qualification standards have been written into law as the formal criteria for recognition of librarians and library technicians in NSW.

A Full Bench of the Commission has:

• found that librarians and library technicians' responsibilities have been historically undervalued despite very significant increases in their skills and output over the past decade;
• granted substantial pay rises of up to 26 per cent;
• ratified a single award for all librarians, library technicians and archivists employed by NSW Government bodies, dismissing applications from TAFE for a separate award;
• formalised the professional status of librarians, placing them industrially on equal footing with lawyers, engineers and other professional categories;
• ruled that librarians and library technicians must hold qualifications ratified as conferring eligibility for membership of ALIA; and
• adopted clear definitions incorporating those mandatory qualifications, with transparent career structures at every classification level.

The Test Case claim was lodged by the Public Service Association [PSA] to give effect to the findings of Justice Glynn in the NSW Pay Equity Inquiry. ALIA played a major part in presenting the case for librarians to the Inquiry. Subsequently in the Test Case, ALIA has supported and worked closely with the PSA in ensuring that qualifications conferring ALIA eligibility are the vehicle for safeguarding the professional status of librarians.

Further information will be made available after receipt of the full judgement.

For more information, please contact: