The Green Party’s commitment to fully settle the care and
support workers’ pay equity claim within the first 100 days
of a new government is news 65,000 workers have been waiting
to hear.
The Greens today announced their commitment
to repealing the Government’s changes to the Equal Pay
Act, restoring the original law and settling the care and
support workers’ claim. They also committed to pass
legislation to settle the claim if that is what it
takes.
“This announcement sets the benchmark on what
is needed for pay equity to become a reality for care and
support workers in New Zealand,” said Fleur Fitzsimons,
National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te
Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The commitment is welcome
and we are pleased the Green Party has accepted the proven
undervaluation and that this settlement must occur
quickly.
“The party’s commitment to a 30 percent pay
equity uplift would put $350 a week in the pocket of a
full-time care and support worker. The average worker, who
works 62 percent of full-time hours, would get $220 a week
more.
“This will be life changing for workers who are
doing it tough in a cost-of-living crisis. Many are back on
the minimum wage because of the failure to update their
previous settlement.
“The funding of over $1 billion
annually to settle this claim must also be seen as an
investment in this critical workforce as our population
ages. Care and support workers are the backbone of the
health and disability system.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
“Restoring pay equity
also makes economic sense. PSA analysis based on
Treasury’s own model shows reinstating all the cancelled
pay equity settlements would grow the economy by $13.5
billion over four years, create around 13,000 jobs, and lift
an estimated 11,000 children out of poverty.
“The
Labour Party said this week it will reverse the pay equity
changes and put care and support workers at the front of the
queue. This must be a full funded settlement. Care and
support workers have waited long enough.
“The choice
this election is now clear between parties who value the
work of care and support workers and all underpaid women,
and the parties in government who sacrificed women to make
their Budget numbers work.
“The PSA urges voters to
change this government and elect a new government that
delivers for women.”
Sarah Strid, a care and support
worker and PSA member said, “I’ve done care work for years
and I know what this work is worth. And we proved it. The
claim is ready to go. So, hearing the Greens say they will
fully settle it in the first 100 days means a lot to me.
It’s what needs to happen.”
Notes:
Statement
re undervaluation of care and support workers
29
September Opening of books must force Opposition parties to
commit to pay equity
The PSA and the NZ Nurses
Organisation reveal publicly the precise historic
undervaluation of care and support workers showing they have
been underpaid by between 24 percent and 38
percent.
Pay equity poll
26
September Pay equity poll: voters say make the fiscals wait,
not women!
PSA analysis of economic and fiscal
upside to restoring pay equity
9
September Restoring pay equity would boost income of 91,000
families by $300/week – PSA analysis
23
August Govt’s axing of pay equity cost jobs & GDP
growth – PSA
analysis
