Interview with Maxine Gay

Maxine Gay was born in Timaru in 1951. Recalls having a baby and getting married at a young age. Describes working for the YWCA and discovering feminism, attending Massey University, involvement in Womens Refuge and employment with the Palmerston North City Council. Discusses the Local Body Officers Union and getting equal pay rates for PEP workers. Discusses feminism in the work place, her skill at organising and the position of women in her union. Talks about membership of the Clerical Workers Union (CWU) and a position as CWU organiser, her love of bargaining and the impact of her work on her family life. Describes the breakup of the CWU. Discusses compulsory unions, compulsory arbitration and the impact of deregulation. Recalls becoming secretary of the Trade Union Federation (TUF) and the failure to mobilise action around the Employment Contracts Act (ECA). Comments on the acceptance of the market economy by the NZ Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU). Talks about union involvement at the international level. Discusses the need to `fight back' and keep the pressure on the Labour and Alliance parties. Recalls the main influences on her career including Marx, the Workers Communist League and the Organisation for Marxist Unity and her desire to organise amongst the unemployed and the community.

Access Contact - see oral history librarian

Abstracted by - Shaun Ryan

Interviewer(s) - Shaun Ryan

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-007220-OHC-7222

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 2.55 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-1795.

Colour photo of Maxine Gay in abstract

Search dates: 1951 - 1999

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-003369 - OHCL-003371