Struggle for Equal Pay
email:
jo'donnell-pirisi@vthc.org.au
or ph: 03 9659 3511.
A Continuing Fight
1920s
Throughout the 1920s to the present day, equal pay continues to be a main priority for women unionists.
Some landmarks in the struggle for equal pay
Between 1926 - 1930 the following unions lodged claims for equal pay:
- The Federated Liquor and Allied Trades Union
- The Amalgamated Clothing and Allied Trades Union
- The Manufacturing Grocers Employees Federation
Muriel Heagney was the Secretary. The Council's aim was to fight for a commitment from the whole trade union movement for equal pay.
The CAEP was formed partly in response to women being unfairly blamed for unemployment during the Depression (because their labour was cheaper).
1939 The war years
Up to this point women made up approximately 20% of the workforce. During the war years this participation was increased by up to 1/3rd and many women went into jobs previously held by men especially defence production. This increased pressure for equal pay and greatly assisted the organisation of women into unions.
A women's wage board was established with the power to fix women's wages between 60-100% of male wages where they worked in male industries. The effect of this was to widen the discrepancies with women in the female dominated industries.
1949 The Commonwealth Arbitration Court fixed the female basic wage at 75% of the male rate
This was despite the ACTU's policy adopted in 1941 that rates should be decided on the job and not the sex.
The equal pay issue remained top of the agenda for women unionists, with special union committees set up in each State, until 1969 when equal pay was granted only to women who did exactly the same work as men.
The campaign for equal pay continued.
Zelda D'Aprano chained herself to the Commonwealth building with two other women and there was a protest where women only paid 2/3rd of the train fare in protest at getting only 2/3rds of male wages.
1972 Equal pay for work of equal value was granted to be paid in three increments. However even now women don't get equal pay
How employers have managed to avoid equal pay:
- by re-classifying women
- by over award payments
- by not promoting women
- women tend to work part time.
1973 Working Women's Centre
The momentum achieved by the equal pay campaign heightened women's expectations and raised their awareness of deep seated discrimination. The first Working Women's Centre was established with government funding. The functions of the Centre were:
- to provide specialist advice on women's employment issues
- to promote the involvement of women in trade unions
- to provide resources to assist unions in their work for female members.
- multilingual newspaper distributed to factories, women and workplaces
- development of policy on a whole range of issues of concern to women maternity leave
- childcare
- achieving real equal pay.
The Working Women's Centre helped develop the Working Women's Charter, the unions' log of claims on women's employment and unions issues. Is set out basic priorities and principles for achieving equality for women as workers and as union members. Women's Charter groups set up all over the country to implement the policy.
In 2001, the struggle continues. An Australian Bureau of Statistics report shows that women's pay still falls far short of men. Women earn, on average, $166.10 less than men, with a woman's salary at $717.70 and a man's at $883.80. For part-time workers, however, women are edging ahead, receiving an average of $16.60 more per week.
Further reading:
Kath Williams: the unions and the fight for equal pay by Zelda D'Aprano. (Spinifex, 2001)
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