Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
The Green Party’s commitment to fully settle the care and support workers’ pay equity claim within the first 100 days of a new government is news 65,000 workers have been waiting to hear.
The Greens today announced their commitment to repealing the Government’s changes to the Equal Pay Act, restoring the original law and settling the care and support workers’ claim. They also committed to pass legislation to settle the claim if that is what it takes.
“This announcement sets the benchmark on what is needed for pay equity to become a reality for care and support workers in New Zealand,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The commitment is welcome and we are pleased the Green Party has accepted the proven undervaluation and that this settlement must occur quickly.
“The party’s commitment to a 30 percent pay equity uplift would put $350 a week in the pocket of a full-time care and support worker. The average worker, who works 62 percent of full-time hours, would get $220 a week more.
“This will be life changing for workers who are doing it tough in a cost-of-living crisis. Many are back on the minimum wage because of the failure to update their previous settlement.
“The funding of over $1 billion annually to settle this claim must also be seen as an investment in this critical workforce as our population ages. Care and support workers are the backbone of the health and disability system.
“Restoring pay equity also makes economic sense. PSA analysis based on Treasury’s own model shows reinstating all the cancelled pay equity settlements would grow the economy by $13.5 billion over four years, create around 13,000 jobs, and lift an estimated 11,000 children out of poverty.
“The Labour Party said this week it will reverse the pay equity changes and put care and support workers at the front of the queue. This must be a full funded settlement. Care and support workers have waited long enough.
“The choice this election is now clear between parties who value the work of care and support workers and all underpaid women, and the parties in government who sacrificed women to make their Budget numbers work.
“The PSA urges voters to change this government and elect a new government that delivers for women.”
Sarah Strid, a care and support worker and PSA member said, “I’ve done care work for years and I know what this work is worth. And we proved it. The claim is ready to go. So, hearing the Greens say they will fully settle it in the first 100 days means a lot to me. It’s what needs to happen.”
Statement re undervaluation of care and support workers
29 September Opening of books must force Opposition parties to commit to pay equity
The PSA and the NZ Nurses Organisation reveal publicly the precise historic undervaluation of care and support workers showing they have been underpaid by between 24 percent and 38 percent.
Pay equity poll
26 September Pay equity poll: voters say make the fiscals wait, not women!
PSA analysis of economic and fiscal upside to restoring pay equity
9 September Restoring pay equity would boost income of 91,000 families by $300/week – PSA analysis
23 August Govt’s axing of pay equity cost jobs & GDP growth – PSA analysis
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.