Moncton – The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity is disappointed by Bill 4’s defeat in the Legislature. An Act to Amend the Pay Equity Act, 2009 would have extended pay equity to private sector employers with 10 or more employees.
The motion to send the bill to the Standing Committee on Law Amendments was rejected along party lines; the Liberal Party and the Green Party voting in favor and the Progressive Conservative Party and the Alliance of People voting against.
"We denounce that the right to pay equity is denied to workers in the private sector, without even allowing for consultations. It was a great opportunity for collaboration and we had hoped that pay equity would take precedence over partisan considerations," says Coalition Chair Frances LeBlanc.
The Coalition believes that the government should at least raise awareness about pay equity for both employers and workers. However, it recalls that past government efforts to implement pay equity on a voluntary basis have proven ineffective.
"Pay equity legislation for the private sector is necessary to ensure that all New Brunswickers enjoy the same protections as those guaranteed by the Pay Equity Act, 2009 in the public sector. It's a question of justice," says Frances LeBlanc, reminding the Premier of his promise to listen to women.
"The Premier said during the election campaign that he wanted to listen to women. We hope he will listen to the thousands of New Brunswickers whose work is undervalued and underpaid. Inaction is no longer an option, "adds Frances LeBlanc.