Nationwide protests follow the government's decision to ugently pass the Pay Equity Ammendment Act.
The Selwyn electoral office of the Minister for Women and National Party MP Nicola Grigg was the target of protest on Friday.
According to PSA representative Tracie Palmer, more than a thousand Cantabrians made their way to the office atto show opposition towards pay equity law changes. Many were eager to make their voices heard.
Protestor dressed in costume from "Haidmaids Tale"Aleksandra Bogdanova / NZBS
The changes were proposed three days earlier by Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden, which she describes as a way to“provide greater confidence that genuine pay equity issues will be correctly identified and addressed.” This meant narrowing the definition of what would be excepted as a valid claim.
The Equal Pay Act was originally established in 1972 to legally prohibit sex-based discrimination within traditionally female dominated workplaces. It gave employees the right to raise claims and complaints about unfair wages and receive compensation.
Van Velden claimed that the changes made to the original Act by 2020’s Labour government only created issues by allowing claims without strong evidence to be submitted, therefore burning through government resources. Yearly settlements cost the Crown upwards of $1.75 billion.
The Equal Pay Act Amendment Bill was passed urgently by government at 7:45pm on May 8th. Over 33 claims, which represented thousands of workers,are now forced to restart the process.
This spawned nationwide outrage, with the Public Service Association (PSA) being at the forefront; creating petitions and organising nationwide protests. One of those protests occurring outside National Women's Minister Nicola Grigg’s electoral office in Selwyn.
The atmosphere was electric, many expressing feelings of anger at the government for the lack of public consultation and rushed process under which the new Bill was passed.
Nicola Grigg however was not present at the electorate due to other commitments, an absence which riled protesters.
She told Metro News that, “Despite the misinformation currently circulating, the Government is absolutely committed to pay equity for women.”
She says the recent changes allow for enough time for evidence of sex-based undervaluation to emerge, and previously voided claims can be re-raised under the new rules.
Aleksandra Bogdanova & Ella Dickens / NZBS
PSA continue to advocate their petitions and encourage future rallies.
Protest flyer on car back windowAleksandra Bogdanova / NZBS
