FED: Rudd government must raise women's pay: alliance

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2009
FED: Rudd government must raise women's pay: alliance

EDS: Embargoed until 0100 (AEST), Monday, August 31, 2009



SYDNEY, Aug 31 AAP - A new alliance has called on the federal government to support
equal pay for women that it says never materialised from the 1970s liberation movement.

The Equal Pay Alliance comprises 135 community, business and welfare peak bodies and
has formed to coincide with Equal Pay Day on September 1.

Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharon Burrow says a woman must work 14
months to earn the same that a man would make in a year.

"It's almost 40 years since Australian women were officially granted equal pay for
equal work," Ms Burrows said in a statement.

"Yet women still earn 17 per cent less than men or $1 million less over a lifetime.

"For the first time, a broad coalition of organisations will campaign to close the
pay gap between men and women."

Ms Burrows said women are now more likely to have a tertiary qualification than men
but will earn $2,000 less than male graduates and $7,400 less five years after graduation.

"It is unacceptable that working women are still being short-changed in their pay packets,"

she said.

The alliance has called on the federal government to help close that gap.

"We look forward to the support of the Rudd government, employers and the community
to achieve these reforms so our daughters don't need to work an extra two months to earn
as much as their brothers," Ms Burrow said in a statement.

AAP vpm/cdh

KEYWORD: WOMEN (EMBARGOED)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.