April 8 Is Equal Pay Day
Today, April 8, is Equal Pay Day — the day on which the average female worker’s pay finally catches up to what her male counterparts earned the year before. Because of the wage gap, it takes a woman 15 months to earn what the average man earns in 12 months. “It’s unacceptable. Our sisters, daughters and mothers deserve better than this,” emailed Karli Wallace, campaign organizer for Democracy for America.
The nationwide DFA is joining with the National Organization for Women in support of the federal Paycheck Fairness Act — legislation that will finally require employers to prove that pay disparities result from factors other than gender, prohibit retaliation against employees who ask about wage practices or disclose their own pay and strengthen penalties for equal pay violations, Wallace notified Key West NOW.
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on this legislation this week, according to Wallace, who described it as “our best chance all year to fight to close the pay gap. The Paycheck Fairness Act helps women fight the wage gap by requiring greater transparency from employers – who would have to show that wage differences are job-related and not gender-based — and protects employees from retaliation when they share information about compensation,” she said.
“This bill is about more than simply closing the income gap for women, it’s about recognizing women’s work as equal to their male peers. Really, what the bill is about is right there in the name: Fairness!” said Wallace.”Please join DFA and NOW in urging your U.S. Senators to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.”
Representing the Florida Keys are Sen. Bill Nelson 202-224-5274 and Sen. Marco Rubio (202) 224-3041 and U.S. Representative Joe Garcia 202-225-2778. Key West NOW added that local residents can also call Rita Cotter, Garcia’s constituent services representative in Key West, at 305-292-4485.
Key West NOW meets on the third Friday of almost every month from 5 till 6 p.m. at Shanna Key. For details, phone the chapter at 305-393-7844.
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