How can it be as women 124 years ago we got the vote, but to this day we are still underpaid and undervalued in mainly women-only employment, even when performing the same roles as men?

Kristine Barlett proved this with the aged care equal pay settlement. They accepted that the roles in aged care homes had been unfairly paid due to being performed by women.

In the last couple of weeks across New Zealand, NZEI (New Zealand Education Institute) have been holding paid union meetings for support staff/teacher aides to vote for or against their collective agreement. The Ministry of Education (MOE) have offered a pathetic attempt at a pay increase, basically holding members to ransom. If we accept what the MOE offered, in return they would, in a ‘good faith process', pave the way towards pay equity for members of a $3-5 per hour wage increase.

It's going to be an interesting fight for pay equity but it will be worth it in the end. I'm up for it; woman deserve this, not just the woman of today but for our daughters and their daughters.

M Martin, Otumoetai.