Clerks vote in favour of 'gay’ law

Press, 18 April 1986, Page 9

Clerks vote in favour of 'gay’ law

PA Wellington The Clerical Workers’ Union has voted to support the Homosexual Law Reform Bill in its entirety. Any discrimination against clerical workers which reduced their access to jobs, fair wages, promotion or advantages of employment was rejected, said the union’s acting secretary, Ms Christine Gillespie, yesterday. “We support its principles applying to employment,” Ms Gillespie said. “Anyone who inflicts or supports prejudice against our Lesbian or gay members will be challenged. We will act against any employer who harrasses or treats disadvantageously a lesbian or gay clerical worker because of their sexual orientation,” she said. Clerical workers were suffering in their jobs by virtue of their sex. Female clerical

workers were undervalued, underpaid, overworked, passed over in promotion, denied maternity leave rights, and harrassed, she said. "If that were not enough, having to endure discrimination because of whom they have relationships with is a further insult,” she said. “Clerical workers should be valued for their skilful and responsible work, irrespective of their sex or sexual orientation.” Members of Parliament who opposed equal job opportunities for lesbians and “gays” should search their consciences, she said. “Sexual orientation cannot possibly impair any workers’ job performance or merit. The sooner this law is passed, the better unions like ours can work to protect the job rights of all parts of our membership,” Ms Gillespie said.