Make a Change for Equal Pay
New Zealanders value fairness and equality regardless of gender. We need laws which map out how everyone can be paid fairly at work – including women.
In 2012, aged care worker Kristine Bartlett and her union took legal action, successfully arguing that she was underpaid because aged care work is largely done by women.
Working people in union have led the campaign for equal pay, negotiating with the government and employers to reach agreement on pay equity principles to guide equal pay settlements.
In 2017, right before the election, the government has introduced legislation that will make it harder for women to take equal pay cases like Kristine Bartlett’s.
We still have a long way to go to get equal pay for women and men. For every dollar men aged between 25 and 64 make, women of the same age make 86 cents. Over a year, that’s like working two months for free.
It’s time to make a change.
Working people are calling for:
- All working women to get equal pay for work of equal value.
- Government and employers’ groups to honour their word on pay equity principles.
- A law that makes it easier for women to get equal pay, in line with agreed principles.
- A fair process for establishing equal pay, including comparison between industries.
- Commitment from government of proper funding for equal pay settlements.