I think it seems like a terrific campaign... I'm not sure why you'd suggest that even the fairly "liberal" among us aren't convinced of the "equal pay for equal work" ideal... I can't think of one person I know (liberal OR conservative) who don't agree with it in theory at least.

In fact, the government is stonewalling as well on the PS judgement. They promised a system of job classification that is now going to be abandoned. The reason? Too complicated, and it valued "professional" (ie, male dominated) jobs at the same rate as pink collar jobs. Why is this a problem for the government? Because it costs more to hire professionals than pink collar workers--professionals are paid a lot more in the private sector that is mostly unencumbered by pay equity. The government actually uses this issue to drive a wedge between PIPS (the professional union) and PSAC, though how successfully I don't know. And it generates a scare campaign that the government will start losing workers to the private sector (heaven forbid that they should pay the pink collar workers more...).

quote:

---

And this is just one of the problems with explaining pay equity to the public. You first have to convince people that 1) the concept of equal value is easy to evaluate in practice and 2) a secretary really is as valuable as a sysadmin.

---

As to the value to the company, the secretary is probably worth as much or more than a system administrator because they are on the "front lines," dealing with customers, partners, organizing the daily routine, etc. I'm not into the theory that education automatically makes someone's work more valuable.

I've changed my ideas on the value of work since I became an "unskilled" laborer in a union environment. Some of the lowest paid members of the work force complete most of the ACTUAL work and keep the company running in the most basic of ways. In my situation I risk my life for the company every day while the managers are pushing pencils in an air-conditioned office.

You would have to call the PSAC union but they managed to get the first major pay equity deal in the federal sector - the same sector under which Bell is regulated.

Some 14-15 years ago, female government librarians (hurray for us librarians) started the pay equity thing rolling. After more than a decade of fighting the government, they won and many older librarians received "equity" payments in the 50-60,000$ range. Jobs in different categories were compared to determine equal value and it worked.

Quoting the press release:

News Release for Tuesday, August 27, 2002:

PAY EQUITY TALKS CONTINUE BETWEEN CTEA AND BELL

Following a recommendation from the Bargaining Committee, the CTEA is continuing discussions with Bell Canada in an attempt to negotiate a settlement of their pay equity dispute that is still before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

At this point, nothing has been finalized. "However the talks are encouraging", said Brenda Knight, President of the CTEA. "We are, and I believe that Bell is, genuinely trying to define mutually acceptable terms which would form the basis for a settlement."

Ms. Knight said she was concerned about the impact on CTEA?s members of rumors and disinformation which surfaced over the past several days. "If we do succeed in reaching an agreement in principle, we will quickly inform our members and the general public, so that every eligible person can fully participate in the ratification process, whether they be present or former CTEA members. People should believe nothing they hear about our talks unless it emanates from either the CTEA or Bell."

Free buses leave from Kennedy Subwat station at 10:30, 11, 11:30 and noon.

From Finch station buses will run at 11 and 11:30am.

From the Bronte/Oakville GO station a bus will leave at 11 am.

A bus will leave from the Bramalea City Centre (near A&P) at 11am

All buses will return after the rally/festival.

As a new babbler I'd fin dit fun to meet up with people.