Equal Pay Day is observed in April to indicate how far into each year a woman must work to receive as much as a man was paid in the previous year. Tuesday symbolizes the day when women’s wages catch up with men’s wages from the previous week. Equal pay has been the law since 1963. Yet almost 48 years later, women are still paid less than men—even when we have similar education, skills and experience.
Learn about the wage gap and why we need the Paycheck Fairness Act
Census data shows that women who work full-time still earn, on average 77 cents for every dollar men earn for performing the same work. This is based on the most recent data released September 16, 2010 for earnings in 2009 and shows that there was virtually no change from the previous year. Based on median earnings of full-time year round workers, women’s earnings were $36,278 and men’s earnings were $47,127. Median earnings for most women of color are even lower. In 2009 the earning for African American women were $31,824, 67.5 percent of men’s earnings (a drop from 67.9 percent in 2008) and Latinas’ earnings were $27,181, 57.7 percent of men’s earnings (a slight drop from 57.9 percent in 2008). Asian American women’s earnings in 2009 were $42,331, 90 percent of men’s earnings, a drop from 91 percent in 2008.
The wage gap still exists, in part, because many women and people of color continue to be segregated into low-paying occupations. More than half of all women workers hold sales, clerical and service jobs. Studies show that the more an occupation is dominated by women or people of color, the less it pays.
More information on the wage gap:
LEGISLATION
Congress passed the Lilly Ledbetter Act in 2009, which gives employees back their day in court to challenge a wage gap. The Paycheck Fairness Act failed to pass the Senate by only a few votes in November 2010.
Now we need to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act more than ever and it is time for Congress to act!
What is the Paycheck Fairness Act?
The Paycheck Fairness Act is comprehensive legislation that would deter wage discrimination by closing loopholes in the Equal Pay Act and bar retaliation against workers who disclose their wages. The bill strengthens the Equal Pay Act to ensure that effective protection is enacted against sex-based pay discrimination. Toward that end, it also allows women to receive the same remedies for sex-based pay discrimination that are currently available to those subject to discrimination based on race and national origin.
What YOU Can Do
The Paycheck Fairness Act is expected to be reintroduced in Congress on April 12 in honor of Equal Pay Day. Rep. Rosa DeLauro will introduce it in the House of Representatives and Sen. Barbara Mikulsi will introduce it in the Senate.
Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor the Paycheck Fairness Act!
CLICK HERE to participate in CLUW's advocacy campaign or call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your congresspersons’ offices. |
