CUPE BC campaigns for pay equity

CUPE BC is continuing its campaign to achieve provincial legislation requiring all employers to implement pay equity. Pay equity is the concept of equal pay for work of equal value, and represents an effort to bring the wage rates of female-dominated professions in line with those of men in positions of similar skill, responsibility, and effort.

The B.C. campaign draws on the experience of successful pay equity campaigns in Manitoba and Ontario, while adding its own unique twist.

One innovative component of the campaign is a Pay Equity screensaver, which has been distributed to hundreds of activists around the world through the CUPE B.C. Web site (www.cupe.bc.ca), and was distributed on CD-ROM to delegates at the B.C. Federation of Labour Convention in November.

As well, a documentary video has been produced and is being shown to CUPE activists across B.C. as well as to other organizations that share CUPEs desire for a law requiring pay equity.

“Pay equity is more than just a CUPE issue,” says CUPE B.C. president Barry ONeill. “Thats why were working to build a coalition with other unions and with organizations outside.”

Jim Kirk