Help close the Gender Pay Gap today
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UFCW Canada submission to the House of Commons Special Committee on Pay Equity |
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| #EqualPayDay |
The gender wage gap is the difference in earnings between women and men in the workplace.
It is a widely recognized indicator of the economic inequality facing working women. A 2015 United Nations Human Rights report raised concerns about “the persisting inequalities between women and men” in Canada, including the “high level of the pay gap” and its disproportionate effect on low-income women, racialized women, and Indigenous women.
Canada is ranked as having the 8th highest gender pay gap out of a list of 43 countries examined by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
According to data from the 2016 Census, women in Canada earn nearly 30% less than men—a gap that's even wider for racialized, Indigenous, LGBTQ2S, and disabled women. As inflation and the costs of living soar, women are struggling to afford the basic essentials to support themselves and their families.
Women have historically faced significant barriers to achieving economic equality, including gender-based discrimination in hiring, promotion, and pay. While progress has been made in recent years, the gender pay gap remains persistently high. Women have higher levels of education and still make less than men on average. There’s a significant gap between what men and women earn in every industry and occupation.
Pay equity is not a privilege or a frill. It is the law. Discriminatory pay gaps are a violation of human rights, and human rights enforcement is not a partisan issue.
How can we eliminate the gender wage gap?
- Make closing the gender gap a human rights priority
- Legislate card check & promote access to collective bargaining
- Enforce and expand pay equity
- Increase the minimum wage
- Legislate equity compliance for workplaces and businesses
- Provide affordable, high-quality, universal child care
- End violence and harassment of women
- Table Pay Transparency legislation
Simcoe, Ont. – August 4, 2016 – More than 300 seasonal agriculture workers in the Norfolk County area participated in the 2016 Annual Seasonal Agricultural Worker Health and Information Fair, hosted by UFCW Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA).
Charlottetown, P.E.I. – July 22, 2016 – Canada's leading and most progressive union, UFCW Canada, proudly stands in solidarity with striking workers at Canadian Blood Services in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, who have been on strike since September of last year.
Winnipeg – July 18, 2016 – UFCW Canada young member-activists from across the Prairies recently gathered in Winnipeg, Manitoba for the latest session of Canada's leading internship program for young workers – the UFCW Canada Young Workers Internship Program (YIP).
Red Deer, Alta. – July 15, 2016 – UFCW Canada Local 401 member-activists and staff recently met in Red Deer, Alberta for a day dedicated to strengthening member engagement and learning new ways to reach out to other UFCW Local 401 members.
Toronto – July 4, 2016 – UFCW Canada activists from across the Greater Toronto Area were out in full force for the 36th Annual Toronto Pride Parade.
