Pay equity at Canada Post
May 14, 2012
Canada Post pay equity: 28 years and still waiting
In November 2011, it took the Supreme Court of Canada 20 minutes to tell Canada Post to end a 28-year long battle for pay equity. Six months later, we are still waiting for PSAC members to receive payments that are long overdue.
PSAC first filed a complaint with Canadian Human Rights Commission in August 1983, alleging that clerical work, performed mostly by women, was equal in value to the higher paying sorting and delivery work that was performed mostly by men.
After a seven-year investigation by the Commission, the case was finally referred to the Human Rights Tribunal, where hearings lasted 400 days over the course of 10 years.
In 2005, the Tribunal ruled in favour of PSAC and ordered Canada Post to pay retroactively from August 24, 1982 to June 2, 2002, “discounting” the award by 50 per cent. In 2008, the Tribunal's decision was overturned by the Federal Court following Canada Post's request for judicial review.
PSAC and the Human Rights Commission appealed the decision to the Federal Court of Appeal only to have it dismissed. Our union then filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
On November 17, 2011, after deliberating for 20 minutes, the Supreme Court rendered a unanimous decision and upheld the Tribunal's 2005 decision and Order.
It has now been six months since the Supreme Court made its ruling and Canada Post continues to drag its feet, arguing with PSAC on how much money it owes our members.
Enough is enough. It's time for Canada Post to do what the highest court in the land told it to do and pay up! Women shouldn't have to wait 30 years to achieve pay equity.
Date Modified : 2012/05/14
