The toolkit is a practical guide to bargaining for equal pay, designed for union representatives and members to use in their workplaces. It was launched on Wednesday 30 March at an online event, which included a variety of speakers. These speakers included Francesca Lawson, Copywriter and co-creator of the famous Twitter account @PayGapApp, Joanne Galazka, Unite the Union’s Women and Equalities Officer, Ian Manborde, Equality and Diversity Officer at the performers’ union Equity, and Shona Thomson, GMB Union Convenor, winner of the prestigious Eleanor Marx Award and a home care worker in Glasgow.
Dr Zubaida Haque, Executive Director of The Equality Trust, hosted the event and highlighted that equal pay is not just an individual issue, as it affects the whole society in terms of structural inequality.
Francesca Lawson drew attention to the latest gender pay gap figures, showing that 77% of employers pay women less than men. She explained that the gender pay gap is useful, but it does not explain why it exists. Employers often cite that it is a representation issue, saying that there are not enough women in senior/leadership positions. However, this does not give the full picture, particularly as men are still seen more in those positions even in female-dominated professions. Pharmacy is a majority female-dominated profession with almost two-thirds female, but we do not see that proportionality carry into senior roles.
Jo Galazka emphasised that we are 50 years on from the Equal Pay Act 1970 which outlawed different pay rates for the sexes, yet women are still not paid equally as there is consistent undervaluing of roles carried out by women. Jo advocated the need to start talking about pay with others and asking the right questions to try to improve the situation for women. Especially as the current situation is making it worse with occupational segregation, increased performance-related pay initiatives, and the high cost of childcare. Jo said, “the Equal Pay Toolkit is an essential item for unions in their fight for equal pay and is a great starting point for reps and officers to begin those crucial negotiations.”
Daniela Rusalim, Vice-President of the PDA NAWP Network said, “The National Association of Women Pharmacists (NAWP) is delighted with the development of the Equal Pay Toolkit and is proud to have been involved in its creation. The toolkit provides extensive information on equal pay and encourages employees to take action, as well as urging employers to conduct equal pay audits and create a healthy workplace culture around equal pay. I look forward to using the tool to increase awareness on equal pay and instigate much-needed change.”
The toolkit includes sample surveys for union representatives and members to adapt to their workplaces. It is available in a print version and online.
Learn more
- Achieving Equal Pay in your Workplace toolkit
- The Equality Trust
- Gender pay gap app
- The PDA NAWP Network
- Twitter – @PayGapApp
- Equal Pay Act 1970
Not yet a PDA member?
If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.