17 September 2009
Media Advisory

Petition calls on Government to act to reduce the pay gap for women

Labour Women’s Affairs Spokesperson Sue Moroney will today in Parliament table a petition signed by nearly 16,000 Kiwis calling for the Government to take action to reduce the pay gap for women.

Today’s petition and accompanying speeches from supporting groups, and an event tomorrow launching a campaign to reduce the 12 per cent pay equity gap coincide with Women's Suffrage Day, which is celebrated throughout New Zealand on Saturday.

“New Zealand women fought hard to get the right to vote and influence decision-making in this country. They would be ashamed to see how this government is attacking the value of women,” Sue Moroney said.

“Since National came to power it has cut the pay equity investigation for school support staff and social workers, which affects 30,000 women, and closed down the Pay and Employment Equity Unit.

“Government spokespeople Pansy Wong and Kate Wilkinson have done nothing to stop it – they have simply stood by and watched.

“This Government’s indifference, to moves to close the pay gap means New Zealand women are paying twice in the recession, as more women than men are also losing work – 62.5 per cent of the newly jobless are women.

“Pay equity is not just an issue for the 51 per cent of the population who are female, but also for any father who values his daughter, any man who shares daily living costs with his wife or partner and any boy dependant on his mother for his health and well-being,” Sue Moroney said.

“Speaking, alongside me, at today’s event are Paul Goulter (NZEI) Putiputi Temara, Brenda Pilott (PSA), Peter Conway (NZCTU) and Angela MacLeod (Pay Equity Challenge).

“At tomorrow’s event a coalition of 25 organisations will launch a campaign, called the Pay Equity Challenge, to push the Government to be positive and make strides to close the gender pay gap,” Sue Moroney said.

ENDS

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