News

New Zealand's government will establish a working party to address the pay gap between men and women, while also negotiating with unions over pay rates for caregivers. Press release from E Tu, the union representing care and support workers, is below. For more information see http://www.etu.nz/our-voice

The Government’s decision to go into negotiations over the dismal pay rates that plague the care and support sector is a huge step forward for underpaid workers.

E tū, the union for care and support workers, welcomes the announcement made today.

The negotiations will affect around 50,000 people working in care and support roles, not just the aged residential care workers covered by the case taken by caregiver Kristine Bartlett under the Equal Pay Act.

A Joint Working Group including unions, employers and officials will also recommend agreed principles on pay equity that could be applied in all sectors of the economy.

E tū assistant national secretary John Ryall said this was the right thing for the Government to do.

“We welcome this approach to address the pay discrimination in women-dominated industries. Negotiations are always preferable to legal action, as E tū members will get a say on whether the Joint Working Group’s recommendations are good enough,” Mr Ryall said.

“We’ve won this all the way through the courts – it’s clear that the law is on our side, and we’re in a good position to win decent pay rises across the sector.

“This is exciting news for our new union and for working women in all industries,” he said.

“Should there not be a favourable outcome from these negotiations, the union will go back to the Employment Court in March.”

Caregiver and E tū member Marianne Bishop was thrilled with the news.

“We’ve been in this fight for years, it’s so good to see the government finally willing to come to the table,” Ms Bishop said.

“We do important work helping other people, for a pittance. It’s not fair. Now we know we can get fair pay for our work,” she said.