The Campbell Liberals plan to scrap long-awaited pay equity legislation is devastating and disappointing, says CUPE BC secretary-treasurer Colleen Jordan.
This is a big setback for workers in BC. Women have fought long and hard for a law that sets out an obligation to eliminate wage discrimination. Now its back to square one, says Jordan.
BCs pay equity law was an amendment to the Human Rights Code and covered all workers in BC, public and private sector.
There is no need to repeal the law, says Jordan. It wasnt going to come into effect until June 2002 and could have been amended if they wanted to have their review.
But now, theyve taken away the 14 months employees and employers could have had to work together on plans for pay equity that were good for their work site.
CUPE BC plans to continue to make the case for pro-active pay equity legislation that covers all BC workers. Jordan says the union will be preparing a presentation for the review that has been promised by the government.
We are fighting for pay equity legislation that covers all workers, she says. Its right and fair to pay people a wage that doesnt discriminate against work that is usually done by women.