The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) congratulates low paid Australian workers in female dominated areas like aged care who will receive big pay rises after an historic equal pay decision by the Fair Work Australia workplace tribunal.

The equal pay case was supported by the Gillard Government as well as unions. NZNO President, Nano Tunnicliff is hopeful that the New Zealand Government will take a leaf out of Gillard’s book and support equal pay for work of equal value. 

“Our members who work in the aged care sector are some of the lowest paid workers in New Zealand, earning only slightly above the minimum wage, on average. Their work is skilled and demanding and we know that their pay rates are related to their gender rather than their skills,” Tunnicliff says.

“There is never going to be a “right time” to address the gender pay gap, so we at NZNO encourage the Government to take a principled stand and start funding those who care for our most vulnerable citizens properly. If Australia can address the gender pay gap in the midst of a global recession then so can New Zealand.”

“As Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said, paying a decent wage will stimulate the economy and make society more resilient. It’s time to stop the undervaluing and underfunding of women’s work,” says Tunnicliff.

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