Situation Now
Alliance Party Views on Pay Equity in New Zealand
10 October 2000
Coalition for Equal Value Equal Pay
PO Box 12 361
Wellington 6015
Dear Linda
Thank you for you request for information on the Alliance's policy on pay equity.
I have enclosed the sections relating to pay equity from the Alliance's women's and industrial relations policies, as well as a media statement on this issue released in October last year.
Please feel free to provide a link to the Alliance website - www.alliance.org.nz
Kind regards
Claire Hall
Press secretary
claire.hall@parliament.govt.nz
Alliance Party Policy on Pay Equity
Increasing equity within the working environment
The present gap between men's and women's average earnings will be addressed through pay equity and equal employment opportunities legislation. The latter will also deal with the opportunities of other disadvantaged groups. An Employment Equity Bureau will be established to provide the research and expertise needed in this area.
Pay Equity determinations
A union, individual or group of workers, or the Employment Equity Bureau by its own motion may apply to the Workplace Commission for a pay equity determination in respect of an occupational group. The Workplace Commission shall determine, on the basis of investigation and submissions, the minimum national pay equity standard for the occupation. All terms and conditions of employment, collective agreements or ordinary employment contracts will be required to be consistent with the determination. A process for the determination of pay equity issues within the collective bargaining process will also be investigated, and such agreements shall be required to be non-discriminatory in their nature and applications.
Equal employment opportunities for women
... Effective employment equity legislation will be introduced. The pay provisions of this will: provide for the determination of wages in accordance with the principles of equal pay for work of equal value, make pay equity determinations similar to those for determining national industry standards, establish a process for the determination of pay equity issues within the collective bargaining process, and enable an individual, a union and a group of workers to apply for pay equity determinations ...
Pay equity legislation ready to go
Laila Harre MP Wed Oct 13 1999
For the last decade women have consistently been paid on average only four fifths of their male counterpart's pay
'Clearly the market has not delivered. Even Mrs Shipley must now accept that gender gaps don't disappear without intervention. That's why the Alliance has legislation ready to go on day one of a new government. By July 1st of 2000 we could have a Pay Equity Office up and running,' Alliance spokesperson for Workplace Relations, Laila Harre said today.
'In 1990 Mrs Shipley promised that deregulation would deliver equal pay for work of equal value. It hasn't
'The pay gap between man and women has at best remained static at about 80% of male earnings. National hasn't just put pay equity on a back burner, its let it fall right off the stove.
Laila Harre's Equal Pay For Work Of Equal Value Bill would set up a system of pay equity claims based on determinations of work of equal value. The claims process would be enforceable through the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Court.
It would also establish a Pay Equity Office. The Office would have the job of collecting information on gaps in pay between female workers and their male counterparts, and the ability to inspect workplaces and grant certificates.
The Bill is ready to be adopted as soon as a new government is elected.
'Pay equity legislation would simply bring us into line with the international community. For example UK, Canada, Ireland and other European countries
The Bill sets up a process to evaluate the level of skill, effort, and responsibility required for work where at least 60% of the employees are female, compared to similar areas of work where at least 60% of the employees are male. It then compares pay packets.
It would look at whether it is fair that nurses earn less than police officers, clothing machinists earn less than construction workers, checkout supervisors earn less than storepersons, for example.
In 1990 Mrs Shipley, as Minister of Women's Affairs repealed the Employment Equity Act which had been introduced only months before by the former Labour government. She promised that the market would close the gap, and that National would get rid of tertiary fees, which would help more women into education and therefore better paid jobs.
National have since increased tertiary fees. The Pay equity gap remains.
In 1995 Mrs Shipley continued to promise: 'The wage gap will slowly correct itself....But there is a very interesting debate as to whether it will ever be neutral and I suspect the privilege of bearing children will one way or another automatically ensure that it never closes entirely.'
'So much for Mrs Shipley's commitment to equal pay for New Zealand women. National has completely failed to deliver. The Alliance is ready with a plan of action to get rid of that pay gap once and for all,' said Laila Harre.
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