PAY EQUITY CHALLENGE COALITION MEDIA RELEASE

7 March 2011

Little to celebrate at Women’s Day picnic
International Working Women’s Day – 8 March

A gathering at Parliament Grounds tomorrow to mark International Working Women’s Day will begin by acknowledging the women of Christchurch.

“While we acknowledge the pain and overwhelming work demands for all the people of Christchurch, our thoughts are very much with the women of Christchurch, as they struggle to care for children, organise their families and get their homes in order, while worrying about job security and making ends meet,” said Coalition spokeswoman Angela McLeod.

Mrs McLeod said there was little to celebrate on IWWD 2011.

“We have seen little advance in terms of lifting women’s equality in the past year,” she said. “Instead things are becoming increasingly unfair on a whole range of fronts, including attacks on solo parents and insulting 25 cent hourly increases for those on the minimum wage - both of whom are disproportionately women.

There has been no action taken by Government to close the gender pay gap. Inaction just entrenches inequality said Mrs McLeod.

The Coalition will launch a pledge tomorrow and invite women community leaders to sign on to challenge Government to ‘urgently reassess its strategy on pay and employment equity with a plan to significantly close the pay gap in the next three years’.

“Many women community leaders, including MPs, city councilors and others have already signed the pledge,” said Mrs McLeod. “The Government is out of touch with the community on equity issues and urgently needs to take note of women leaders and change direction towards a more equitable society.”

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