Equal pay claim

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33189, 31 March 1973, Page 6

Equal pay claim

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 30. Women hair stylists will be the first to take their ease to the Arbitration Court under the new Equal Pay Act, which comes into force today. They are applying for a 100 per cent rise in pay. Under the terms of the act. parties to awards that expire! after April 1 must start the first of five equal steps over five years to introduce equal pay. The present award rate for ■ fully qualified woman hair-' dressers is $36.60 after an I apprenticeship of four and a | half years or 8000 hours. ! The women, who make upl at least 90 per cent of those covered by the award, want; a minimum of $72 a week. I This is the amount claimed I for the men hair stylists, | whose award rate is at present $52.80. Negotiations broke down ■, after two days’ conciliation talks this week. The employers have offered an 8 per cent increase with a onefifth further movement forl women to close the payment! differential between the sexes. The award covers all hairdressers outside Auckland city and north of Auckland.! It is expected that the Arbi-; tration Court will hear the' case in about five weeks. | — j ‘THE PRESS'* CARRIES YOUR MESSAGE EARLY TO MORE THAN 200,000 ANO COUNTRY. READERS IN_CnA _SUBURBS