Public sector workers rally at the provincial legislature
Fredericton (28 May 2006) - Members of the New Brunswick Union of Public and Private Employees (NBUPPE/NUPGE) are demanding that all political parties take swift action to adopt pay equity in the province.
Workers represented by the union were out in force at a rally by the New Brunswick Federation of Labour on May 24 at the provincial legislature. They chanted slogans and waved placards. One sign, worn by a young girl who was flanked by two boys, read: "I'm worth as much as my brothers."
Union President Debbie Lacelle said public sector workers have waited six decades and the time has come for politicians to act.
"We accepted, in the Declaration of Human Rights, that without discrimination people deserve equal pay for work of equal value. It is now 60 years later and we are still dealing with this issue. How much longer until legislation ensures equity and respect?” she asked.
"It's all about respect, respect our children," said federation president Michel Boudreau. "We don't want to wait another 20 years to have legislation for pay equity. We want it now."
The governing Conservatives have guaranteed pay equity in all sectors of the public service by 2010. The opposition Liberals, who released an updated policy on the day the rally was held, promised to close the gap but stopped short of pledging legislation that would apply to all situations in the province. The New Democratic Party supports pay equity legislation.
Hospital, school and Crown corporation employees are not included in the government's current pay-equity legislation. It applies only in certain areas of the public service.
Former NDP leader Elizabeth Weir introduced a private-members bill in 2004 that would have forced the private sector to implement pay equity. The legislation was rejected by an all-male committee last year. "It was painful to watch eleven men make the decision on behalf of women of New Brunswick," Weir said. NUPGE
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