In May 2010 it was 40 years since the Equal Pay Act was passed and in that time we have seen many achievements. The Commission co-hosted an event in partnership with Fawcett, the TUC and UNISON to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the introduction of women’s right to equal pay.
This collaborative event offered a unique space for key equalities stakeholders to reshape the debate around equal pay and propose practical, progressive action to tackle the gender pay gap and bring historic legislation to fruition in the 21st century.
For more information on this event see Equal Pay – 40th Anniversary.
GEO is a small policy department employing just over 100 staff, which has responsibility within Government for equality strategy and legislation. GEO takes the lead on issues relating to women, sexual orientation and transgender equality matters. For more information, visit the GEO website.
Opportunity Now is a membership organisation for employers who are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for women. Opportunity Now seeks to promote and share best practice in the business community in the recruitment, retention and development of women. Find out more on the Opportunity Now website.
Close the Gap is a partnership initiative working to close the gender pay gap in Scotland. Close the Gap works with employers and employees to enable action to address the causes of the pay gap. In particular the project provides advice and support to employers and trade unions. Their partners include the Scottish Government, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Trade Union Congress. For more information and contact details see the Close the Gap website.
UNISON is Britain and Europe’s largest public sector union with over 1.3 million members. Their members are made up of people working in the public services, for private contractors providing public services and in the essential utilities. UNISON has been providing support and legal assistance for many members seeking their equal pay rights. For more information, see the UNISON website.
Fawcett is the UK’s leading campaign for equality between women and men. They began in 1866, when Millicent Garrett Fawcett began her lifetime’s work leading the peaceful campaign for women’s votes. They are a charity, registered in England no: 1108769 and company limited by guarantee no 4600514. Fawcett campaigns for equality between women and men in the UK on pay, pensions, poverty, justice and politics. Visit the Fawcett website to find out what campaigns they have planned for 2010.
The TUC union represent almost 7 million people in the UK. They campaign for fair deals at work and social justice both here in the UK and abroad. To see what they have done in relation to equal pay visit the TUC website.
PCS have been campaigning for equal pay for many years through various strategies:
For more information visit the PCS website.
The Equality Challenge Unit was established in 2001 to support the higher education sector in realising the potential of all staff and students, whatever their race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion and belief, or age, to the benefit of those individuals, higher education institutions (HEIs) and society.
For information on equal pay within higher education visit the Equality Challenge Unit website.
Please send any feedback or enquiries to equalpayfeedback@equalityhumanrights.com.