EQUAL PAY DAY: APRIL 9, 2013
Greetings Sisters and Brothers:
In Ontario women are “in the red” because on average they earn 28% less than men, for work of equal value. I know it’s hard to believe in 2013 but it’s a fact, and the gap is even bigger for racialized women, women with disabilities and Aboriginal women.
The Ontario Federation of Labour is working with the Ontario Equal Pay Coalition to change that. We are reaching out to labour and community activists to raise awareness by organizing actions across the province around Equal Pay Day – April 9.
The Goals of Equal Pay Day are:
- To raise awareness and mobilize actions so that the often hidden and illegal gender pay gap becomes a discussion topic in the media and in the workplace;
- To demand that governments and companies change their compensation and employment policies which contribute to the pay gap;
- To ensure employers have pay equity plans in place to close their pay gaps which are maintained to take account of “changed circumstances”;
- To have Equal Pay Day recognized earlier each year as the pay gap decreases and disappears.
We need your community expertise and assistance at the local level. I am urging you to contact your municipal council to build support and declare April 9 as Equal Pay Day. I also ask that you distribute the Action Alert flyer throughout your union and community contacts.
Included here are:
If you have any questions or require materials please, contact OFL Director Carrol Anne Sceviour at csceviour@ofl-org.flywheelsites.com or direct line 416-443-7670; mobile 416-606-5046.
In Solidarity,
Nancy Hutchison
OFL Secretary-Treasurer
Click here to download the backgrounder.
Click here to download the poster.
