NUPGE urges action against Harper pay inequity bill

This legislation will not help the economy or save jobs and there is no proof that it will save the government money.

Ottawa (4 March 2009) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is urging Canadians to send an e mail to their MPs protesting the Harper government's legislation that removes the right to pay equity for 130,000 federal public sector workers.

The Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act (PSECA), part of Bill C-10 – the Budget Implementation Bill - will eliminate the right of federal public workers to file complaints for pay equity with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

This legislation continues the Harper government's attack on programs and policies intended to promote or advance women's equality.  It started when the Harper government cancelled the early learning and child care program and closed a number of Status of Women Canada offices across the country.  PSECA is another extension of the Harper government's lack of respect for women's equality.

This act will transform pay equity from a human right to an “equitable compensation issue” that could be traded away at the bargaining table where historically the government holds the balance of power.

It redefines the terms under which the “value” of work is assessed by introducing the notion that women’s work in the public sector should be valued according to prevailing market conditions in the private sector where frequently work done by women has been devalued.

Prime Minister Harper is also out of touch with other more progressive world leaders.  The first piece of legislation that President Obama signed as the new president of the U.S. was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. He stated that “making our economy work means making sure it works for everybody and that there are no second-class citizens in our workplaces.” Obama realizes that ensuring equal pay for equal work will stimulate the economy.

“Here in Canada we have the complete reversal,” states James Clancy, national president of the National Union of Public and General Employees. “We know that this legislation will not help the economy or save jobs and there is no proof that it will save the government money. Why then is Harper determined to ensure that women in Canada come in second place.”

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE