Description: After a 28-year battle, female clerical workers at Canada Post have won a $150-million pay equity award.

Source: The National Post

Date: 11/17/2011

Link: http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/11/17/after-28-year-pay-equity-fight-female-postal-workers-awarded-150-million/

Related links:

• The court’s decision
• CBC story
• Toronto Star story
• Public Service Alliance of Canada statement
• Canada Post
• Canadian Labour Congress resources on pay equity

Questions for discussion:

• Whom does this decision affect?
• The Canada Human Rights Act says men and women doing work of equal value should be paid equally. How would you define “work of equal value”?
• Why do you think it took almost 30 years to resolve this case?
• Why do you think the Supreme Court decided so quickly?
• Since this case began, the pay equity laws have been changed. The National Post story says the changes “prevent public servants from turning to the courts to obtain settlements in pay-equity cases. Instead, they would require female workers to achieve wage parity with their male colleagues through collective bargaining.” What are the pros and cons of such an approach?