Unite comment on Government’s Equality Bill

27.04.09

Diana Holland, Unite’s Assistant General Secretary for Equalities, said: “We welcome the publication of the Equality Bill and the recognition that the commitment to fairness and equality will not be a casualty of the global economic crisis.

“This Bill is an important landmark in the struggle for equality at work. While it does not go as far as we would like in all areas, it does include positive commitments from which workplaces, communities, families and individuals can benefit.

“We will continue to press for the Bill to include stronger action on equal pay to close the gender pay gap and rights for union equality representatives as the missing link to equality for men and women workers at the sharp end.

“The challenge for the government is to ensure fairness and equality is at the heart of the response to the global economic crisis. Discrimination and unequal pay are a cost to our economy which we cannot afford today or for future generations.”