April 9 is Equal Pay Day.
In Ontario today, women earn 30 per cent on average less than men. The discrepancy is even greater for indigenous women at 57 per cent and for racialized women up to 38 per cent. Women with disabilities face a 46 per cent wage gap.
Your union will be participating in a series of actions on Equal Pay Day. More information will be available closer to the date.
The gender wage gap hurts women, families and communities. When women have more purchasing power, they are able to further support local services and business, and thereby the economy.
Creating change takes time, but what you need to do is to help us raise awareness about this important issue. Talk to your family, and friends, and together, let us build a more equitable society for all.
The Equal Pay Coalition notes that access to collective bargaining is a strong tool to close the gender pay gap, and is calling for increased access to unionization.
Unionization is one of the most effective tools to close the gender pay gap.
Actions You Can Take
- Get info cards from union representative to distribute to co-workers
- Raise awareness by informing at least one or two friends and co-workers about Equal Pay Day.
- Post to social media about the gender wage gap on April 9.
Visit equalpaycoalition.org to find out more on this important issue.
