WASHINGTON – On the 46th anniversary of the signing of the Equal Pay Act, AAUW urges lawmakers to make real progress on closing the wage gap between men and women by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182).
Signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on June 10, 1963, the Equal Pay Act prohibits gender-based pay discrimination, but the wage gap remains stubbornly in place. The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen the Equal Pay Act by taking meaningful steps to empower women to negotiate for equal pay, to create strong incentives for employers to follow the law, and to strengthen federal outreach and enforcement efforts.
"It's time the Equal Pay Act lives up to its promise to provide equal pay for equal work," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "In 1963, women made just 59 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts. Nearly 50 years later, that figure has climbed at a painfully slow pace to just 78 cents on the dollar. Women should not have to face pay discrimination at work, especially during these tough times."
As the recession continues, women are increasingly becoming the sole breadwinners in their families — making pay equity not just a matter of fairness but the key to a family's ability to make ends meet.
"The Paycheck Fairness Act closes serious loopholes that have developed in the Equal Pay Act over the years," said Lisa Maatz, AAUW director of public policy and government relations. "With a strong bipartisan vote in the House in January and 31 cosponsors in the Senate, AAUW members across the nation are working hard to put this bill on the president's desk."
Thanks to the hard work of AAUW and our coalition partners, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law in January, sending a strong message that economic issues and pay equity are a top priority. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act restores basic protections that allow workers to challenge wage discrimination, but it's only the first step to fair pay. The Paycheck Fairness Act, along with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, will help create a climate in which pay discrimination is not tolerated.
Ledbetter herself is a strong supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act. Although she spent years of her life on a case that will never yield her a dime, she often says that helping working women is her reward. She will speak at the AAUW National Convention in St. Louis, June 26–28, where members will have the opportunity to attend a variety of workshops, including several focused on public policy and advocacy.
