by Paula Määttä

E. The role of the soial partners

In New Zealand, equal pay for work of equal value has become a very important aim for many unions. Trade unions organize education and training courses for women enabling them to take more active role in the organizations. Until its abolition in December 1992, the Trade Union Education Authority used to run programmes specifically for women unionists and included items on the needs of women workers in its seminars. Many activities related to Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) in the private sector have been initiated by trade unions with large female membership. One of the most active trade union has been Finsec, which is a finance sector union formed from the bank officers and insurance workers unions. The bank officers union had been taken a discrimination case to the Human Rights Commission in early 1980s. The unions have been published publications to campaign for equality for women. (ILO, 1923 Nov 1990, 76.;cedaw 1993, 38.)