Equal pay fight takes to Auckland streets

  • 12/08/2017
Kristine Bartlett won a historic settlement for aged care workers earlier this year.
Kristine Bartlett won a historic settlement for aged care workers earlier this year. Photo credit: File

Hundreds are expected to turn out to an Auckland rally on Saturday morning in the fight for equal pay.

More than 19 groups and organisations will rally at Takutai Square at 11am, before marching up Queen St arguing for pay equity in women-dominated occupations. 

Auckland Pay Equity Coalition spokeswoman and former Labour MP Carol Beaumont told Newshub the change is long overdue.

"We believe this needs to be sorted now - the time has come," she said. "We've won the recent case with Kristine Bartlett, with workers in age and disability services, and we want that extended to all women."

Ms Bartlett earlier this year won a historic $2 billion settlement against the Government for aged care workers. 

However serious concerns over the Pay Equity Bill remain. It only narrowly passed its first reading in Parliament.

"Unions, businesses and Government got together and agreed to some principles," said Ms Beaumont. "We don't think that the legislation adequately reflects those and, in fact, is a step back."

The Pay Equity Coalition fears the new legislation will change the way future settlements are made, and says now is a better time than any to do something about it. 

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern will speak at the march.

Newshub.