30 November 2012

YWCA Campaign keeps Pay Equity on the Agenda

“The advertising campaign launched this week by Auckland YWCA highlighting unequal pay between men and women is a huge boost for getting pay equity back on the political agenda” says Suzanne McNabb, Convenor of the CTU Women’s Council.

“It is unbelievable for young women to find out that they are getting different pay rates because of their gender. The study in 2010 looking at the pay rates of university graduates one year after graduation confirmed the discrimination young women face. The study found that the young women were paid 6% less than men and after 5 years’ employment this had increased to an outrageous 17%.”

“In this day and age we need to ensure that young women do not face basic pay inequality simply because they are women. This is a great campaign that we totally support. It will resonate with young women and will be supported by other workers.”

“The completely reasonable expectation that young women have to receive the same pay for same or similar work and to be valued for the work they do needs to become the norm” says Suzanne McNabb.

“The campaign highlights the ways we can achieve pay equality and the need for legislation. Increasingly it is accepted that we need the legislation that the Equal Opportunities Commissioner has drafted”.

Suzanne McNabb says, “Well done to the Auckland YWCA for standing up for young women and their futures. Initiatives like this are needed to highlight the issues and ensure that there is action to change gender pay inequality.”

ENDS

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>