1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: If Grant Robertson thinks the COVID inquiry is a show trial, 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: then what is about to unfold at the High Court 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: as of the end of this month can't be far behind. 4 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: We've got a bunch of unions who are taking the 5 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 1: government to court over pay equity. Now they're having several stabs. 6 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: The Bill of Rights is in play, democratic process is 7 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: up for debate. One of the things the unions claim 8 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: may happen is if they win is a select committee 9 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: would have to hear submissions and a debate in Parliament 10 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: would have to take place. Oohoo, that's the show trial part. 11 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: I mean select committees here from people you would expect 12 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: to hear from, broadly people opposed to whatever change of 13 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 1: the law is in play, and a debate in Parliament. 14 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: Here's both sites, one for one against, with the Government 15 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: of the day prevailing. Given it is they who have 16 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: the numbers, and indeed that is why they're the government, 17 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: which is essentially why court is a waste of time. Remembering, 18 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: of course, the government is the ultimate court and if 19 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: they want to pass the law, guess what they can 20 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: making it complicated is the whole pay equity calculation. Of course, 21 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: that's a mess. Secondary teachers, for example, we're one of 22 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: the many claimants putting inequity claim for it before the 23 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: law was changed. Now, to my eye, correct me if 24 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: I'm wrong, but to my eye, being a high school 25 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: teacher is not an equity issue. Men do it. Women 26 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: do it, lots of them, and they aren't paid on gender. 27 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: It is not a profession. We're ninety nine percent of 28 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 1: them are women. And because the women, they're poorly paid. 29 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: High school teachers are paid actually quite well. You could 30 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 1: equally argue they're not paid as well as they could 31 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: be because the union insists that they all get paid 32 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: the same based on time in the classroom. If they 33 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: got paid on merit, now that would be a whole 34 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: different world. Christine Bartlett's case became famous because we could 35 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: all see the care industry was mainly female and the 36 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: pay was poor. Now, I would still argue the pay 37 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: was poor because the work, although kind and worthy, is 38 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 1: not of great numerical value. If it was, rest holmes 39 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: would pay more, and they would charge residents more, and 40 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: we'd all happily fit the bill. But we don't want 41 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: to do that, do we. Anyway, The upshot is the 42 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: best of the unions can hope for is a court win. 43 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:55,639 Speaker 1: The wind can then be used to beat the government 44 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: about the head as big bad meanings, but it will 45 00:01:57,760 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: still not get them paid under an equity deed because 46 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: the court is not the government. For more from The 47 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to News Talks A B 48 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.