Australia Post is releasing a commemorative stamp to celebrate 50 years of the principle of equal pay for equal work in Australia.
Speaking on the stamp release, Australia Post Executive General Manager People and Culture Sue Davies said over the past two years Australia Post was proud to be one of the few large Australian organisations to have achieved gender pay parity.
“It’s important that people continue to have conversations about gender pay parity and we hope our commemorative stamp raises awareness amongst the Australian public of how, collectively, we can achieve this important goal,” said Ms Davies.
In 1969 the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) brought a case to the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (CCAC) against the Meat and Allied Trades Federation (and others) arguing for “equal pay for equal work”. The ruling included the important principle that when women were engaged in the same work as men in traditional male roles they were entitled to equal remuneration.
While the principle of equal pay for equal work has now been around for 50 years, women are still fighting for equal pay for work of equal value. In 2019 a significant gender pay gap still exists at 14.1 per cent.
The commemorative stamp designed by the Australia Post Design Studio features the slogan current at the time, “Equal Pay for Equal Work”, with a photograph of demonstrators in front of Trades Hall, Carlton, Victoria in 1969.
Other products associated with this issue include sheetlet of 10 x $1 stamps, first day cover and maxicard.
The Equal Pay commemorative stamp issue is available from 18 June at participating Post Offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at auspost.com.au/stamps, while stocks last.
