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Gender pay gap grown
For the first time in five years the gap between men and women’s pay has grown – exposing that the coalition government are pushing us even further away from equal pay for women.
Speaking in the equalities agenda debate Kate Osborne, Unite equalities rep said, “Since 2010 we have seen the damaging difference that a government determined to turn back the clock on achieving equality for all can make.
“This basic human right to equality is re-cast as a burden on business and unnecessary red tape. Never mind the burden on millions of women, BAEM, LGBT and disabled people who our society systematically discriminates against.
“The equality and human rights commission has been starved of resources, our social security system is being dismantled, and employment and trade union rights undermined.
“It is no wonder that last year the gender pay gap grew for the first time in five years.”
Trade unions and equality campaigners fought hard against the governments’ repeal of the â€third party harassment’ legislation.
The provisions provided protection for employees against third-party harassment such as from customers, visitors and clients. But it was abolished by the government from October 2013.
Unite has campaigned for pay transparency and mandatory pay audits in order to close the gender pay gap.
Kate Osborne continued, “We don’t just want a legal framework that outlaws discrimination; we want a nuts and bolts approach to enforcing that legal framework, and to go further. To place positive obligations on employers to achieve equality in their workforce.
“And the simple answer to this is a trade union equality rep with statutory rights, with facility time, in every workplace.
“We are a necessary part of winning a positive agenda, in breaking the glass ceiling, in ending discrimination, and pushing towards equality. It needs national legislation and equality reps to organise and help drive this through.
“We can achieve equality for all. It does not have to be a pipe dream. And statutory equality reps will help us get there.”
