Women in UK lose white-collar pay struggle

Women in the UK working in traditionally well-paid white-collar occupations are earning less than half as much as their male counterparts.

The revelation suggests that, despite government figures released last week showing that the gap between men’s and women’s pay closed slightly in the past year, many industries continue to operate a “glass ceiling” for female staff.

The survey, produced by the salary comparison site PayFinder.com and based on input from nearly 100,000 users across the UK, shows that the banking industry has the biggest pay gap, with the average male worker’s salary almost 60 percent more than that of the average female employee.

The survey shows that in 12 of Britain’s biggest industries men earn at least 30 percent more than women. In both sales and public relations, men earn almost 50 percent more than women.

Industries with the smallest salary gaps were centered around the charity and public service sectors. Only in the customer services industry, which largely involves call center work, are women paid more than men — 18 percent on average.

Experts blame the gap on the way that many industries appear to prize what are seen as “male” strengths. A report by the Work Foundation suggested that employers reward toughness, competitiveness and aggressiveness — qualities seen as masculine.

The foundation’s report also suggested that many industries’ networks — important for making contacts and doing deals — consist mainly of men and are dominated by their interests and cultures. (Observer (UK))

California grocery clerks’ strike enters second week

The strike by 70,000 Southern California grocery clerks entered its second week on Saturday, Oct. 18 with no new negotiations in sight and both sides blaming the other for the impasse.

Talks broke off Oct. 11 and no negotiating sessions were scheduled, said Terry O’Neil, a spokesman for the Ralph’s supermarket chain.

Ellen Anreder, a spokeswoman for the United Food and Commercial Workers union, said the supermarkets must first make a new contract offer.

Grocery clerks from three chains -- Kroger Co.’s Ralphs, Safeway Inc.’s Vons, and Albertsons Inc. -- went on strike or were locked out of stores from San Luis Obispo to San Diego in a contract dispute involving the cost of health care coverage and other issues.

The walkout by grocery clerks is coupled with a strike by transit mechanics in Los Angeles. The strike against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority began Tuesday when mechanics walked off the job in a dispute over health benefits and other issues. It has stalled the nation’s third-largest mass-transit system, which serves 500,000 people a day.

MTA drivers and other union workers at the agency are honoring the strike. (AP)