Source: NZCTU
Women representing the more than 300,000 workers in female-dominated industries affected by the Government’s gutting of Aotearoa New Zealand’s pay equity system have today delivered a petition of 93,924 people to opposition MPs at Parliament.
“The Government has made it virtually impossible for people in female-dominated industries to be paid fairly, but this petition shows that women will not be deterred in our fight to achieve pay equity for all,” said PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons.
“The workers who are affected by the cancellation of claims keep this country running with the essential work they do to support education, health, families and communities,” said Fitzsimons.
“Overnight the Government reversed decades of progress to correct pay rates for women, but we are heartened that tens of thousands of New Zealanders are supporting us,” said secondary school teacher and PPTA Executive Member Clare Preston.
“We are demanding that the Government undo the Equal Pay Act changes, reverse the claim cancellations, and deliver pay equity for all workers,” said Preston.
“The pay equity changes were a huge slap in the face for women and have a massive impact on the families and communities we care for, but we will continue to rise up,” said care and support worker and E tū delegate Jo-Chanelle Pouwhare.
“We will not stop fighting until the Government listens to us,” said Pouwhare.
