NZCTU welcomes Labour pledge to restore pay equity

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi welcomes Labour’s commitment to reverse the Government’s gutting of pay equity within its first 100 days in office, and to put care and support workers at the front of the queue for a settlement.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins made the commitment at a public meeting in Christchurch on Monday night.

“This is the commitment working women have been waiting for since the day this Government ripped away their right to fair pay,” says Melissa Ansell-Bridges, Secretary of NZCTU.

“One of the most despicable things this Government has done to working people was when in May last year, with no warning and no consultation, they rushed a law through Parliament under urgency that cancelled all 33 pay equity claims in progress – affecting more than 180,000 working people.

“Nurses, care and support workers, teachers, librarians, and administrators who had spent years building their cases were told to start again under rules designed to make sure they fail.

“Care and support workers have waited far too long, and we’re pleased Labour has committed to prioritising them first.

“Restoring pay equity within the first 100 days was one of the core priorities in our Briefing to the Incoming Government. It’s good to see Labour step up and make this commitment for working women. Now we want every other party that hopes to form the next government to make the same commitment – along with a clear plan to fund it.

“Pay equity isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s about fixing the historic undervaluation of work done mostly by women. On 7 November, voters have a clear choice between a government that took pay equity away and parties that will give it back.”

“We can’t risk three more years of Luxon and his anti-worker government,” says Ansell-Bridges. “It’s time to vote for change. It’s time to vote for pay equity. Working women can’t afford six years of Luxon.”