About 2000 Illawarra and South Coast community service workers, mostly women, are celebrating a landmark decision which brings wage equality to a severely underpaid industry.Fair Work Australia yesterday recommended pay boosts of between 19 and 41per cent to be phased in over eight years, equating to rises of between $6324 and $24,346, which is more in line with the public service sector.Presently, community service workers earn an average $46,000 a year, compared to the national average of $58,000.Included in the decision was acknowledgement of the role sexual discrimination had played in the wage imbalance. Fair Work said the increases would ‘‘provide an ongoing remedy for the part gender has played in inhibiting wages growth in the SACS [Social, Community and Disability Services] industry’’. Leading the charge in NSW was Illawarra woman Narelle Clay, who is state president of the Australian Services Union.Ms Clay said the decision was ‘‘a stunning victory’’ after a long and hard-fought campaign.‘‘For as long as I can remember, and I’ve been in this industry 28 years, we’ve been waging the case for better wages,’’ she said.‘‘These are essential services, services that improve the quality of life of people; that deliver some of the most critical support work ... So it’s about time.’’Prime Minister Julia Gillard pledged to partly fund the $2billion pay increases and called on state governments to assist.NSW Finance and Services Minister Greg Pearce said NSW would pay its share of any order.Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick said the decision was a significant advance for equal pay for women.‘‘One of the primary reasons this work has been unrecognised until now is because it is predominantly done by women.’’Nicky Sloan from Illawarra Forum - a group representing 300 community groups in the Illawarra - said it was a good day for community sector workers.“This is an important step in recognising the value of their work, and giving them equity with their peers from other sectors,’’ she said. ‘‘It will also begin to reduce the pay gap between men and women.’’