Radical pay equity changes by Harper government

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Tue, 2009-02-24 19:57

radiorahim radiorahim's picture

Radical pay equity changes by Harper government

From NUPGE (linked from rabble's front page)

http://www.nupge.ca/node/2047

"The PSECA will effectively eliminate women's ability to pursue pay equity complaints by forcing them to file complaints as individuals. This bill will also impose a $50,000 fine on any union that encourages or assists members in filing a pay equity complaint, leaving women to fight the system unaided. Since no individual can afford to do so, this will clearly be a mockery of justice."

And the Harper government's Orwellian name for this bill is the "Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act".

It's f*cking incredible! They're going to impose heavy fines on unions that help their members seek justice. Radical? I think fascist would be more accurate!

IIRC, the Harper government is taking a page from former Australian Prime Minister John Howard's government who made it illegal for unions to advocate for occupational health and safety.

Hey Iggy! Dontchathink the Harpocons have failed their probation????

Tue, 2009-02-24 20:00

Sven

radiorahim wrote:

From NUPGE (linked from rabble's front page)

"Since no individual can afford to do so, this will clearly be a mockery of justice."

Do lawyers not take matters like this under contingent-fee arrangements (i.e., if the individual plaintiff loses, the individual pays nothing) in Canada?

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[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]

Tue, 2009-02-24 20:07

radiorahim radiorahim's picture

Sven wrote:

Do lawyers not take matters like this under contingent-fee arrangements (i.e., if the individual plaintiff loses, the individual pays nothing) in Canada?

Get real.

Any pay equity complaint in the federal public service is going to take years if not decades and end up in the Supreme Court of Canada.

There is an outstanding pay equity complaint that the PSAC has against Canada Post that dates back to 1982. A similar pay equity complaint against Bell Canada took over twenty years to be resolved.

Tue, 2009-02-24 20:10

Sven

What is the process now in place that allows for claims to be heard and addressed more quickly?

_______________________________________

[b]Eleutherophobics of the World...Unite!!![/b]

Tue, 2009-02-24 20:56

abnormal

Sven wrote:
radiorahim wrote:

From NUPGE (linked from rabble's front page)

"Since no individual can afford to do so, this will clearly be a mockery of justice."

Do lawyers not take matters like this under contingent-fee arrangements (i.e., if the individual plaintiff loses, the individual pays nothing) in Canada?

No lawyer will take a contingent fee case unless they feel they have a good chance of winning and the contingent fee will more than cover their actual costs [i.e., if the lawyer charges out at $500 an hour and he has to put in 200 hours his share of any award has to cover that - i.e., he has to receive $100K - that means you're looking at individual awards in excess of $300,000 (assuming a 33% contingency - if it's only 20% the award has to be $500,000)].

Wed, 2009-02-25 06:27

Maysie

The topic of Harper's pay equity changes is already being discussed here:

http://www.rabble.ca/babble/feminism/pay-equity-canada-moves-back-us-for...

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