LIANZA’s statement said pay equity claims – instigated with six councils in 2019 – were made on the basis that the work of librarians and library assistants was historically and currently undervalued as it was performed predominantly by women.

Another case for a claim for tertiary education library workers and library administrators was put forward in 2022.

LIANZA executive director Laura Marshall said there were few comparable industries that reflected the same skill level, multifaceted work and qualifcations held by library staff.

She said some library workers were having to work three jobs to pay living costs despite many of them having “postgraduate degrees with jobs requiring highly technical skills”.

She said reducing the ability to compare roles with other jobs would diminish the professional standards required to do the work.

“Libraries employing new staff want to be able to pay what staff with training and qualifications are worth – and this legislation is a step backwards in libraries’ attempts to value their workers.

“We don’t want skilled people to be leaving or choosing not to join the industry because of this – but unfortunately, supporting your whānau does play a role in your job choice, even if it is a passion,” Marshall said.