Cllr Vicky Wakefield Jarrett

Green councillors from across the city, and Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas, stood outside Brighton Station last week seeking support from passers-by for the Equal Pay Day campaign, which hopes to change the law to end low pay for women. 

Women working full time across the UK now earn an average 17 per cent less per hour than men working full time. Over the course of the year, this equates to women receiving their last pay cheque on October 30th – while men are paid all year round.

Within 45 minutes more than 140 people had signed a petition calling on the government to amend the Equality Bill currently before parliament to include measures such as gender pay audits.
 
The petition is part of the Equal Pay Day campaign, jointly run by the Fawcett Society and Unison. The campaign seeks to close the gender pay gap - women working full time across the UK now earn an average 17 per cent less per hour than men working full time.

Speaking afterwards, Green Cllr Vicky Wakefield Jarrett, who speaks for the Greens on Equalities said:
“We were overwhelmed with the level of support people gave us – it seemed as though everyone we asked was prepared to back the campaign for equal pay. Its clear there’s huge public support out there for a change in law to ensure women get a fair deal.

“We urgently need to do more to end the scandal that is the 17 per cent gender pay gap – and the first step is making sure the Equality Bill goes further. Too many women are being paid too little for hard work, and it’s high time the Government did something about it. The sheer number of people prepared to stop and sign our petition shows just how much demand for action there is.”
 
To sign the equal-pay petition visit:
www.fawcettsociety.org.uk

For more information about the Greens view: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk