Coalition wants answers on pay equity in the public sector from Pay Equity Bureau

New Brunswick’s 2009 Pay Equity Act, which came into force in 2010, provided a two-year period during which public sector jobs were to be evaluated and compared.

Pay equity adjustments for public sector workers were supposed to commence in April 2012. However, the process of evaluating and comparing female-dominated and male-dominated jobs has largely not been completed. Pay equity is described as equal pay for work of equal or comparable value.

Given the serious delays in the execution of the Pay Equity Act 2009, the NB Coalition for Pay Equity wants answers from the Pay Equity Bureau.

The public, but more importantly, the women who work in female-dominated jobs in the public sector have the right to information as to the implementation of this legislation. The issue is one of transparency. Until now, very little information has been made public on the process but one thing is clear, there are major delays. The time has come for the Pay Equity Bureau to provide a progress report.

The Coalition has presented a series of questions to the Pay Equity Bureau and to the Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues to whom the Bureau reports.

The Coalition wants to know how the legislation is being implemented, specifically:

o       Which female-dominated jobs have been evaluated?

o       Which male-dominated jobs have been evaluated?

o       Which jobs have yet to be evaluated?

o       What is the methodology being used?

o       What are the results of the process to date?

o       What is being done to protect the rights of non-unionized workers?

Without information, it is impossible to make sure that the process being followed will lead to pay equity.