Equal Pay Update
February 2017
WELCOME TO 2017. AN
EQUAL PAY SETTLEMENT
THIS YEAR – FOR SURE!
2017. It’s a New Year and a time for hope that
we’ll finally see an offer to settle Kristine Bartlett’s
historic equal pay case. A settlement is the talk of
the care sector everywhere.
Your union, E tū, which won this case together
with Kristine Bartlett, anticipates an offer, which
once ratified, will mean a bumper pay rise for care
and support workers.
Negotiations for a settlement of the Kristine
Bartlett case and a pay increase for care and
support workers are back underway and a further
meeting is set down for next week. While the
delays have been frustrating, the negotiations are
promising and your union team is working as hard
as possible to get an offer from the government
that reflects your hard work and high level of skills
required in your job.
Get active and support the campaign now by:
•
Talking to your workmates about equal pay,
give them this newsletter and ask them to join
the union;
• Get involved in Equal Pay ratification
meetings (see the next page of this
newsletter);
• Sign a letter to your MP and get your
workmates, friends and family to sign it too;
• Meeting with your local MP to present your
letter and talk about why a settlement is so
important.
If you are keen to sign a letter and/or organise a
meeting with your local MP, please contact 0800
1 UNION (0800 186 466) so we can support you
to get this happening in your area.
DANCING FOR EQUAL PAY
A settlement is set to transform the care and
support industry, and the lives of thousands of
New Zealand women who for too long have not
been recognised for the great job they do.
Separately, the government has accepted the
joint working group's proposal on the equal pay
principles, which will set a legislative pathway for
equal pay claims in female dominant workplaces
or sectors. Paula Bennett's comments this week
that "I wouldn't expect it past before the election
but I'm certainly hopeful it will be in the house and
start being debated," refer to the passing of the
equal pay principles into law. While we believe
these need to legislated for as soon as possible
so more women across New Zealand can make
equal pay claims, this has no impact on the care
and support negotiations, which are a separate
process.
E tū’s Bernie, Rachel and Jenny at ‘Treat Her
Right’
E tū members got their dancing shoes on before
Christmas to take part in a mass dance for equal
pay in Auckland.
The ‘Treat Her Right’ event was organised as part
of the CTU’s equal pay campaign and the dance
EQUAL PAY NEWSLETTER – FEB 2017
was filmed for a promotional video to support the
campaign.
E tū members travelled from as far away as
Geraldine to take part in the dance and joined
hundreds of women on a beautiful summer
afternoon to boogie to Donna Summers’ ‘She
works hard for the money’. It’s a message we
know our members will relate to! You might have
seen someone you know dancing on TV One
news this week. Stayed tuned for the final video.
EQUAL PAY VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Are you keen to be more involved in the equal
pay campaign?
In the wake of a settlement offer, your union will
be running meetings with thousands of caregivers
and support workers across New Zealand, so
everyone gets a chance to hear about what’s on
offer, and to vote.
Getting involved to help run these meetings is a
great way to build your skills and confidence,
learn more about equal pay and the union, as well
as meet lots of other passionate union members.
We will be running a 1 day training seminar in
most cities and regional centres through
February/March. If you would like to be involved,
or find out more about taking part, please inquire
via return email; or email [email protected].
Or you can call Yvette on 0274318486.
Bennett said she had personally been affected by
the pay gap, after earlier jobs as a dishwasher
and a nurse aide. These are indeed the very
same kinds of jobs held by so many of our
members and for whom Kristine Bartlett’s case
offers the hope of fair pay.
It means the Minister is well-qualified to
understand the issues involved. Your union hopes
this means she will prove an ally in cabinet and
will be prepared to throw the power of her new
position behind efforts to finalise an equal pay
offer to settle Kristine’s case sooner rather than
later.
KEEP UP TO DATE ON FACEBOOK
E tū home support: Join this very active Facebook
page with lots of discussion about everything
home support. A great way to share your opinions
and get support from your colleagues nationwide.
E tū: Join this page to stay up to date with union
news, events and information.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER PROMISES EQUAL
PAY ACTION
With the year now well underway, equal pay is
back in the headlines, with key newspapers
featuring stories about closing the gender pay
gap. As well as the TV 1 story on Tuesday night
there was a story in Wellington’s Dominion Post
which saw lots of comment from E tū and our
hopes for the equal pay settlement.
In the TV 1 story the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Women, Paula Bennett said she was
"thrilled" about the campaign and wants "to see
equal pay and pay equality".
The Dom Post article included a promise of action
from Bennett to close the country’s 12% gender
pay gap.
To discuss the equal pay case or any
other issues at work, or to join E tū,
please contact E tū Union Support:
[email protected]
0800 1 UNION
(0800 186 466)