Protestors rally in Rolleston against changes to Pay Equity Law
PHOTO: Signs were raised and chants were loud at the Pay Equity Protest in Rolleston.
SOURCE: Isla Melton
Hundreds gathered outside the Rolleston National office of Minister for Women Nicola Grigg on Friday May 9 in protest of the government's changes to the Equal Pay Act.
The action, organized by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), is part of a broader campaign against what workers unions say is a rollback of progress on pay equity for women.
The protest follows the rapid passing of the Pay Equity Amendment Bill under urgency, which has resulted in 33 active pay equity claims being thrown out.
These included claims from teachers, healthcare professionals and social service workers – industries predominantly staffed by women.
Despite being called with less that 48 hours’ notice, the turnout outside Grigg’s electoral office in Rolleston Square included men, women, children and even a few dogs.
PHOTO: Dogs were also in support alongside hundreds of protestors.
SOURCE: Isla Melton
Protestors carried signs reading “Women deserve equal pay” and “I can’t believe we still have to protest this s***.”
Chants of “What’s outrageous? Gendered wages!” and “What do we want? Pay Equity! When do we want it? Now!” echoed through the square.
Retired principal Lesley Murray, 67, held a handwritten sign that asked, “I’m retired – why should I care?” Her answer: “Because I am a woman, because I have sisters, nieces, cousins, friends... because I am human.”
Murray told Canta she doubted the government would listen to the protesters.
“I would like to be optimistic and think they will, but I suspect they won’t give a damn.”
The legislation, led by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden, is pitched as a way to make the pay equity process “more robust, workable and sustainable.”
According to van Velden, the government is facing rising costs, currently totally $1.78 billion annually from settlements, mostly in the public and publicly funded sectors.
She argues the changes will reduce Crown spending and prevent duplicate or repeated claims.
PHOTO: Tracie Palmer, PSA organizer said the turnout shows how angry people are.
SOURCE: Isla Melton
“This has set us back decades in terms of woman’s pay and womens work,” said Public Service Association (PSA) Christchurch organizer Tracie Palmer.
“There is a huge array of people here who are angry – and this is in the middle of a Friday in Rolleston. We’d have thousands if this was in town on the weekend.”
Palmer said the protest is just the beginning.
“Absolutely, there will be more protests. This is just the start. Unions are workers. Unions are women workers, and it’s the unions that have been doing all the pay equity claims.”
PHOTO: Brodie says he is very concerned by the changes to the Equal pay act.
SOURCE: Isla Melton
Among those rallying was Brodie, a community worker affiliated with the Green party. Brodie works with care and support workers and mental health workers.
“My role will be affected by these changes,” they said.
“I think pressure needs to be put on government and opposition to think about this seriously. Any means to reverse this would be cool.”
While the bill allows new claims to be raised under strict criteria, existing claims and review clauses have been wiped.
For workers who’ve fought for years of recognition, it's a hard pill to swallow.
The message from Rolleston was clear: the fight for pay equity is far from over.
PHOTO: Protestors left signs outside the National office of Minister for Women Nicola Grigg.
SOURCE: Isla Melton