• Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi
• Post-Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua spokesperson
• Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa | New Zealand Tertiary Education Union
• New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa
• NZEI Te Riu Roa

When: Friday 29 August, 8:00am Where: Wellington High Court, 2 Molesworth Street

Women workers whose pay equity claims were cancelled by the Government’s pay equity legislation will rally outside the High Court in Wellington on Friday morning to support the formal filing of legal action challenging the decision.

The case is brought by five unions representing the women, who include nurses, teachers, library assistants and care workers.

The five unions are seeking a declaration that the amended Equal Pay Act 1972 is inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, arguing it breaches freedom from gender-based pay discrimination, the right to natural justice, and the right to fair legal process.

Workers will be available on the day to comment on what the case means for them.

Plunket nurse and delegate Hannah Cook, who will be attending the rally, says the Government’s removal of pay equity rights hit hard.

"There was a lot of devastation across the team, staff morale really plummeted. I’m really hoping to be able to have our say so that the coalition Government understands the greater impact this has had on us. It doesn’t just affect us, it affects the wider community too."

The rally will start at 8.00am and the case will be formally filed with evidence from each union when the court opens at 9.00am.

The previous media release issued when the five unions announced the legal action is available at: https://www.psa.org.nz/news-media/five-unions-to-take-government-to-court-over-pay-equity

Note:

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand's largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

© Scoop Media