After 28 years, postal workers win equity pay battle

After 28 years of waiting, postal workers won in court yesterday. The supreme court of Canada ruled in their favor in a pay equity case. It could mean up to 250 million dollars in damages awarded to about six-thousand current and former workers.

A case like this might not be seen again for a while. In 2009 conservatives passed a measure that forces workers to deal with pay equity disputes through collective bargaining agreements. It was meant to keep pay equity disputes out of the courts.

The original case was brought forth by the Public Service Alliance of Canada. They said that female postal workers were making less than their male counterparts and accused Canada Post of discrimination.

The 1983 case was settled in the worker’s favor in 2005 but then overturned by the Federal Court in 2008. It was brought to the supreme court last year.

Canada Post said that it will abide by the ruling.

A case like this might not be seen again for a while. In 2009 conservatives passed a measure that forces workers to deal with pay equity disputes through collective bargaining agreements. It was meant to keep pay equity disputes out of the courts.