Moncton – The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity applauds the Liberal Party of New Brunswick’s promise to adopt pay equity legislation for the private sector.
Party Leader Brian Gallant asserted that a Liberal government will first impose pay equity upon local governments and organization in the quasi-public sector, such as universities and nursing homes, by 2020 and businesses in the private sector with more than 50 employees by 2022.
"We have been advocating for pay equity in New Brunswick for more than 30 years and we welcome the strong arguments put forward by the leader of the Liberal Party in favour of legislation,” says Frances LeBlanc, the Coalition Chair.
It is a recognition that voluntary measures have not been successful and that legislation is required to ensure that people working in the private sector are granted the same protections as those guaranteed by the Pay Equity Act, 2009 for the public sector.
"There is a wind of change now that three provincial parties are supporting legislation for the private sector. We will continue our demands until the right to pay equity is respected across the province,” said Frances LeBlanc.
The New Democratic Party and the Green Party have also promised pay equity legislation for the private sector in their respective platforms. For its part, the Progressive Conservative Party platform makes no mention of pay equity.
A reminder that pay equity is equal pay for work of equal or comparable value. The Government of New Brunswick passed the Pay Equity Act, 2009 for the public sector, including Crown corporations.