Friday, June 24, 2011

Business Woman slams Kelly’s tactics in support of Thompson

Public calls for the resignation of EMA chief executive Alasdair Thompson are as ignorant as the sexist behaviour he is accused of, says business woman and single mother of two Sarah Trotman.

“NZ Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly has not been questioned in the same depth about her confused comments on equal pay. In her discussion with Alasdair Thompson she said women teachers outnumber men but more men get the top jobs.

“She is right but this is a red herring: it is not because of unequal pay based on gender at any level of the profession. She is adding irrelevant, emotive issues to confuse the matter and gain traction for her views. Important issues but different ones.

“She suggested same pay for the same qualification – does experience not get thrown in the mix too?”

“I’m starting to tire of Helen Kelly, she has lots of ideas on how to spend the wealth generated by business for this country but I’m not aware that she has created any wealth, even in her role as employee supporter in the CTU. I could suggest she has failed this country, yet she has the gall to call for someone else’s resignation.

“You would think she would have been pleased that the employers association was supporting equal pay!” Trotman says.

“Having listen to his original interview, it seems many have misinterpreted Thompson’s comments Ms Trotman says. “The media have conveniently overlooked the thrust of his original comments yesterday in response to their questioning him about the introduction of the Equal Pay Amendment Bill.

“He emphasised women should of course be paid as much as men for doing the same work, which is the thrust of the Bill of course. This statement of support for women has been glossed over.”

“The media have whipped up a frenzy about his subsequent comments including that some women take time off to have children, and might not get as far in their careers if they have interrupted work lives. That is a fact, so why are people so defensive about it?

“He has been called old fashioned for his views. I find his openness and honesty quite the opposite!

“The public focus on these so-called sexist views of his detract from the discussion about the real issue: equal payment for equal work.

“Mr Thompson did not say taking time off makes women unproductive. He said this is why women tend to get stalled in their careers. Very unsubtle difference!

“What people seem to find unpalatable is the reality that they are only paid in relation to their productivity, however blunt this sounds: women and men alike.

“New Zealanders should be celebrating people like Alasdair Thompson who are advocates for the wealth and job creators of this great country.

ends

© Scoop Media