Unequal Pay Complaint

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31304, 25 February 1967, Page 2

Unequal Pay Complaint

(N.Z. Prill AnociaUon) WELLINGTON, February 24. The Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity last night deplored that the Clerical Workers’ Union’s claim for equal pay before the Arbitration' Court in November had gained less than nothing.

The meeting was told that the union, representing 30,000 workers, actually haf the gap r i

between salaries for men and women employees widened. Mrs R. King, president of the council, said it was not surprising that employers were unwilling to meet the claim for equal pey because cheaper female labour was to their economic advantage.

The failure of the Court to progress towards equal pay for women clerical workers was baffling when the Government had given a clear lead by granting equal pay to its own workers, and had consistently referred trade union approaches on the question to the Court

Women State

now enjoyed equal pay and opportunity while women in non-Goverament employment rankled at the failure of their employers and the Arbitration Court to follow suit, said Mrs King Why should these employees be discriminated against because of their sex? asked Mrs King.