Bennett's Nightmare!! - Government Policy will add to the hardship endured by many NZ women and children.

This package looks like a repeat of the failed policies of the 1990s. They were bad for children then, and they will be worse for children now. Women in part-time work are already severely discriinated against in terms of pay equity and opportunities.
The Government's latest 'great' (I don't think so!!!) idea will further disadvantage solo parents - the majority of which are women - and add to the hardshio already endured by 1 in 5 NZ children.
"Being able to earn an extra $20 per week before tax will not alleviate child poverty, and it probably won't give anyone an incentive to work who isn't already," said Donna Wynd Child Poverty Action Group spokesperson

  Media Release (0.1mb pdf)

18 November 2009 is a red letter day for New Zealand women who earn on average 12% less than men. That’s why 18 November is Working For Free Day. We want to use this day to raise the profile of pay equity issues all over the country.

  Working For Free Day Flyer (0.2mb pdf)

  BPWNZ Media Release (0.1mb pdf)

Pay and Employment Equity was the focus of the Women’s Meeting at Annual Meeting 2009.  Over 200 Women attended this meeting and many signed up to be part of the Pay Equity Challenge www.union.org.nz/payequity

Rose Ryan www.heathrose.co.nz noted industrial and workplace issues researcher and academic took NZEI members through a history of women in the NZ workforce  View Rose’s presentation

National Executive explained why NZEI’s work with the Pay Equity Challenge Coalition is so important – particularly the need to build wider community support and understanding for Pay Equity issues for directly employed Support Staff in schools and Support Workers employed by the Ministry of Education.

  Pay Equity Challenge Coalition speech at Women’s Meeting @ Annual Meeting 2009 (0.1mb pdf)

Over 60 NZEI women signed up to be part of the Challenge.  If you are interested in working with other unions and women’s groups on this important issue please email womensnetwork@nzei.org.nz and we will get in touch.

CTU Women’s Conference www.union.org.nz/about/ctu-womens-council.

View Conferencel photos @ www.fairdeal.org.nz

Pay and employment equity for Support Staff and support workers was an important focus of the CTU women’s biennial conference in August 2009.  Over 150 women unionists from the state and private sector signed a petition to Pansy Wong – Minister of Women’s Affairs – needless to say Pansy Wong’s reply was less that satisfactory.

NZEI members are committed to eliminating the gender pay gap and strongly backed the petition, collecting more than 10,000 signatures. It calls for the reinstatement of pay equity investigations in the public sector and for the government to honour the results of those already completed.

  Media Release 2009/42 (0.1mb pdf)

  GSE Support Worker Pay Investigation FAQs (0.1mb pdf)

NZEI members add 10,000 signatures to a petition on pay and employment equity which aims to eliminate the gender pay gap.

  Media Release 2009/35 (0.1mb pdf)