Pay Equity Challenge Coalition Media Release
23 August 2013

Equal Pay Victory for Caregivers

The Pay & Employment Equity Challenge Coalition congratulates the Service & Food Workers Union (SFWU) and Kristine Bartlett on yesterday’s decision by the Employment Court.

“This decision by the Employment Court is a huge step forward for women and the fight for equal pay for work of equal value,” says Coalition spokesperson Angela McLeod.

The Employment Court agreed with Bartlett and the SFWU that the Equal Pay Act 1972 allowed comparison with workers outside of a single employer’s employment. This approach is fundamental to ensuring equal pay for work of equal value in female-dominated occupations.

“As one of the interveners in the case, we are absolutely delighted at this outcome. It has vindicated Kristine and the union’s argument that the Equal Pay Act 1972 does provide for equal pay for work of equal value.”

“We congratulate the SFWU and Kristine Bartlett, a long-time caregiver, on their hard work and their win.”

“All women, but especially those working in female dominated sectors and therefore most likely to be low paid will benefit from the Employment Court decision.”

“It is time now for all stakeholders to move forward and take all the necessary steps to ensure that women workers are remunerated fairly for work that is of equal value,” said McLeod.

Ends.

The decision can be dowloaded here: http://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/employment-court/judgments-of-the-court-1

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