#OTD 1970. The Equal Pay Act receives Royal Assent.
After decades of campaigning, the bill enables women to make a claim for equal pay if they do the same job as a man.
A look back at Barbara Castle and the battle to introduce equal pay for women #EqualPayActat50
After decades of campaigning, the bill enables women to make a claim for equal pay if they do the same job as a man.
A look back at Barbara Castle and the battle to introduce equal pay for women #EqualPayActat50
In 1946, the Royal Commission on Equal Pay concluded tentatively that women in teaching and certain grades of the civil service might benefit from equal pay.
In June 1947, the Labour Chancellor Hugh Dalton rejected the demands believing that the cost would be too high as he grappled with dire economic conditions.
Barbara Castle was quick to criticise the move:
‘while women fully appreciated the country’s economic difficulties they would be deeply disappointed at the suggestion that they alone should be expected to forego any satisfaction of just claims owing to inflationary pressure’.
‘while women fully appreciated the country’s economic difficulties they would be deeply disappointed at the suggestion that they alone should be expected to forego any satisfaction of just claims owing to inflationary pressure’.
Jennie Lee disagreed and in Tribune responded to support the Government decision asking 'Are Women a Priority?'
Lee told Castle that it could not be won while miners wages were so low. Castle replied ‘In that case, we will wait forever’
Lee told Castle that it could not be won while miners wages were so low. Castle replied ‘In that case, we will wait forever’
Castle chose to work with opposition MPs to pursue the equal pay legislation.
In 1954 she presented an 80,000 signature petition to Parliament demanding Equal Pay for women.
In 1954 she presented an 80,000 signature petition to Parliament demanding Equal Pay for women.
She worked alongside Ulster Unionist Patricia Ford, Conservative Irene Ward and Labour MPs Edith Summerskill as part of the Equal Pay Campaign Committee's campaign
In doing so she was heavily criticised by fellow MPs such as Alice Bacon and Elaine Burton.
In doing so she was heavily criticised by fellow MPs such as Alice Bacon and Elaine Burton.
On 25 January, 1955, Tory chancellor of the Exchequer Rab Butler pledged that there would be pay equality in the 'non-industrial' civil service by 1 January 1961.
A trade union official declared: ‘The door has been opened to the biggest wage claim of its kind’
A trade union official declared: ‘The door has been opened to the biggest wage claim of its kind’
But as the Daily Mirror satirised in a cartoon, there was a feeling that ‘all women are equal but some are more equal than others’ with the new announcement
When Labour returned to Government in 1964 there was an expectation that equal pay would become a key piece of legislation.
The manifesto included the pledge: ‘The right to equal pay for equal work’
The manifesto included the pledge: ‘The right to equal pay for equal work’
In June 1967, Castle warned Roy Jenkins that he would be defeated on Lena Jegar's amendment for equal pay 'unless you allow me to announce that I am drawing up proposals' for an equal pay act. Castle was surprised that he agreed.
By 1968, further pressure was placed on Wilson to bring about equal pay. Labour backbenchers attacked the inaction of the frontbench,
Manny Shinwell asked why it had not been implemented while Renee Short claimed four million women were being used more or less as slave labour
Manny Shinwell asked why it had not been implemented while Renee Short claimed four million women were being used more or less as slave labour
The TUC Congress passed a resolution calling on the Government to ratify equal pay as Barbara Castle watched on.
Castle was attacked by one delegate ‘She has equal pay for equal work; why should not the rest of her sex’
Castle was attacked by one delegate ‘She has equal pay for equal work; why should not the rest of her sex’
At a fifty year celebration of women’s right to vote, Joan Vickers claimed ‘we are demanding to be freed of the last shackles of serfdom’.
Edith Summerskill attacked male leaders:
‘In the 30 years I have been in Westminster, each successive Minister of Labour tell us how his heart bleeds at the gross exploitation of women, but explains, with crocodile tears that this is not the moment to remedy the grave injustice’
‘In the 30 years I have been in Westminster, each successive Minister of Labour tell us how his heart bleeds at the gross exploitation of women, but explains, with crocodile tears that this is not the moment to remedy the grave injustice’
The Labour Cabinet were spilt on the issue.
Richard Crossman noted in his diary that Jenkins, Crosland and Marsh were still opposed.
Richard Crossman noted in his diary that Jenkins, Crosland and Marsh were still opposed.
Then on 7 June, 1968, the Ford machinists at Dagenham went on strike after they had been graded as a ‘B’, when men doing a similar job elsewhere in the factory were given a higher grade of ‘C’ – skilled labour.
Harold Wilson later recalled how Castle 'worked all hours of the night' to settle the dispute, building a relationship with the machinists.
She promised them she would one day bring about equal pay legislation
She promised them she would one day bring about equal pay legislation
The brilliant Made in Dagenham – dramatising the story of the strike – is available to view here
bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01…
bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01…
In the 1969 Queen's Speech. Labour finally commit to an Equal Pay Act.
The Queen announces "Bills will be brought before you to promote improved industrial relations and to provide for equal pay for men and women."
The Queen announces "Bills will be brought before you to promote improved industrial relations and to provide for equal pay for men and women."
By September 1969, the CBI was ‘ready to fight the equal pay plans’ claiming that it was a ‘luxury that the country cannot afford’.
The CBI wanted to wait until the balance of payments had been fixed.
The CBI wanted to wait until the balance of payments had been fixed.
In January 1970, Barbara Castle finally brought her bill to the House she declared:
‘We are witnessing another historic advance in the struggle against discrimination in our society, this time against discrimination on grounds of sex’
‘We are witnessing another historic advance in the struggle against discrimination in our society, this time against discrimination on grounds of sex’
Her intention, was ‘to make equal pay for equal work a reality, and, in doing so, to take women workers progressively out of the sweated labour class’
At the time of the debate it was calculated that ‘Britain has nine million working women making up 35% of the workforce.
Only one in thirty earns the average male wage’
Only one in thirty earns the average male wage’
Castle argued:
'the commitment in this Bill to achieve equal pay by the end of 1975 means that, by definition, pay increases for women will have to exceed those for men over the next few years if women are to catch up in the time allowed’
'the commitment in this Bill to achieve equal pay by the end of 1975 means that, by definition, pay increases for women will have to exceed those for men over the next few years if women are to catch up in the time allowed’
‘I do not accept for a moment that the overall effect will be to create unemployment among women, any more than the introduction of equal pay in the non-industrial public services did—though we heard the same blood-chilling arguments put forward then as we are hearing now’
Castle defended the women who:
‘form one-third of the working population, and they do so, not just because they are cheap labour or in it for the pin money, but because they need work and are urgently needed by their employers...
‘form one-third of the working population, and they do so, not just because they are cheap labour or in it for the pin money, but because they need work and are urgently needed by their employers...
......Indeed, as we all know, there are innumerable jobs where women are employed because they are better at them than men’
Across the floor, Castle found support from Margaret Thatcher
‘When I was a pupil at the Bar, my first master at law gave me a very sound piece of advice which I tried to follow. He said, "Always express your conclusion first, so that people do not have to wait for it"……
‘When I was a pupil at the Bar, my first master at law gave me a very sound piece of advice which I tried to follow. He said, "Always express your conclusion first, so that people do not have to wait for it"……
.....I therefore gladly express my conclusion first on the Bill. I welcome it, and join and others in congratulating the right hon. Lady on having introduced it’
Thatcher concluded:
‘So many people have supported the idea of equal pay for so long that one wonders at the continuing inequality of payment between men and women....the Bill will lead to better pay for many jobs, and I support it as another step in the equal pay story’
‘So many people have supported the idea of equal pay for so long that one wonders at the continuing inequality of payment between men and women....the Bill will lead to better pay for many jobs, and I support it as another step in the equal pay story’
Enoch Powell disagreed and called the second reading of the bill a ‘Black Day’ for the Commons.
Over five years later the Equal Pay Act was made law alongside the Sex Discrimination Bill.
The Daily Mirror celebrated with an alternative version of Page Three....
'Girls It's Your Turn Now - Women Are Equal From Today - Official'
End
The Daily Mirror celebrated with an alternative version of Page Three....
'Girls It's Your Turn Now - Women Are Equal From Today - Official'
End
