Equal Pay Day 2009

30th October was Equal Pay Day in the UK.

On Equal Pay Day individuals and groups across the country took action to mark the day that women effectively receive their last pay cheque of the year. This is because the 17.1% full-time gender pay gap is equivalent to men being paid all year round while women work for free after 30th October. Equal Pay Day 2009 called on the Government to get tough on pay inequality in the UK.

View photos from Equal Pay Day here.

Media coverage of Equal Pay Day:

• The Guardian letters page
• The Guardian editorial
• The Guardian news section
• The Telegraph
• Sky News

Selection of local events that took place on Equal Pay Day:

• Bristol Fawcett and Bristol Unison handed out the EPD leaflet and collected signatures in Central Bristol. They had two MP's attend and show their support.
• Local Green Party councilors and Green party leader Caroline Lucas MEP handed out cookies with a 17% chunk missing to raise awareness of the gender pay gap at Brighton train station during the commuter rush hour.
• A group of Goldsmiths University students talked to students at their halls of residences and on campus and asked students to sign the petition.
• Birmingham University held a panel discussion with Olivia Bailey, NUS's Women’s Officer, and their student union. They also attended freshers fair, campaigned around the University on the day and are in talks with their student union to hold pay audits.
• Manchester University students petitioned at careers fairs and the student union offered women a 17% discount on drinks on October 30th.
• Hull University handed out EPD materials to staff and asked students to sign the petition; Students had a stall with EPD materials and sold cakes 17% cheaper to women then men.
• The South London Fawcett group handed out leaflets in the City of London and asked people to sign the petition. Photos here.
• Roehampton University laid on an Equal Pay Day exhibition, where people were invited to sign the petition and fill out an EPD leaflet.
• Unison Surrey attended a series of events in order to raise awareness of the gender pay gap, and a group visited Redhill Hospital and asked people to sign the petition.
• Keele University handed out EPD materials to staff and asked students to sign the petition
• Glyndwr University handed out EPD materials to staff and asked students to sign the petition
• Oxford University Women's Union handed out EPD materials to staff and asked students to sign the petition
• University of Southampton students and staff worked together on EPD and held stalls at Fresher fairs alongside circulating the petition.
• Bath University handed out EPD materials and asked students to sign the petition.
• South Birmingham College handed out EPD materials to staff and asked students to sign the petition
• Leeds University Feminist Society campaigned digitally, by sending around the online petition to all of their networks and also raised awareness on the day on their stall.
• Colleagues from Unison Lewisham Council handed out leaflets and asked for people to sign the petition.
• A group of Lancaster University students talked to students at their halls of residences and on campus and asked students to sign the petition.
• Glasgow University handed out EPD materials to staff and asked students to sign the petition