Get running this Thursday to raise awareness of pay inequality

Students and staff from the University of Northampton are being encouraged to pull on their trainers and get running to raise awareness of pay inequality.

A 5km fun run at Park Campus on Thursday afternoon (10 November) has been organised by Senior Lecturer in Law, Nick Cartwright, to highlight the national issue.

The Fawcett Society nominates Equal Pay Day every year as the day after which, on average, women start to work for free, which this year falls on Thursday.

Nick said: “The current gender pay gap means that women effectively stop earning relative to men on a day in November. This day is referred to as Equal Pay Day and varies according to the actual pay gap each year. November 10 is only one day later than last year.

“Equal pay isn’t just a gender issue, there is a national BME pay gap, an LGBTQ+ pay gap and a disability pay gap, and if you look at all of these gaps, for older employees they are higher. Ending the pay gap isn’t about saying that everyone’s the same and can and should make the same contribution, it’s about recognising difference and different contributions but valuing those contributions equally.”

In addition to raising awareness, the run will raise funds for the Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council (NREC), of which Nick is a director.

Runners need to meet at 1pm outside the Park Campus library at 1pm on Thursday, ready for a 1.15pm start.

You can donate any sponsorship money via the Local Giving website.