|
Washington DC Office:
2263 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Ph.: 202-225-5161
Fax: 202-225-5163
District Offices:
Marin Office:
1050 Northgate Drive
Suite 354
San Rafael, CA. 94903
Ph.: 415-507-9554
Fax: 415-507-9601
Sonoma Office:
1101 College Avenue
Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Ph.: 707-542-7182
Fax: 707-542-2745
|
 | | |
| Woolsey Backs Efforts to Combat Pay Discrimination | | January 9, 2009 | |
| Washington, DC – Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), the Chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, today backed a pair of bills to combat gender pay discrimination. Woolsey was an original co-sponsor of both bills, which President-elect Obama has indicated he will support.
The first, H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act, would close loopholes in the existing Equal Pay Act which have allowed irresponsible employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay. Nearly five decades after the landmark legislation was passed women continue to earn just 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man performing the same job.
“As millions of workers continue to struggle during this economic downturn, it is more important than ever that every American---regardless of gender---receives equal pay for equal work,” said Woolsey. “Today’s passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act is not only symbolically important, but makes real changes to the law which will in turn raise thousands of women out of poverty, especially those who are single parents. The Equal Pay Act was passed over 45 years ago with the best of intentions. It is fitting that we now update the law so that we can renew our commitment to tackle equal pay head on.”
According to the Institute of Women’s Policy Research, such wage disparity will a cost a woman anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million in lost wages over her lifetime. Such loses also diminish what women are entitled to in pension payment, retirement savings, and social security.
The House also took up and passed H.R. 11, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, legislation to reverse an erroneous Supreme Court decision that limits the ability of women and other workers to hold their employers accountable in cases of pay discrimination. The legislation, which was passed 247 - 171, will clarify the law, allowing workers more time to bring charges against employers who knowingly engage in such practices.
“Unfortunately, Lilly will not reap the benefits of this legislation, and, as a result, will continue to feel the effects of the Court’s wrong-headed decision for the rest of her life through smaller pension and Social Security benefits,” said Woolsey. “But it will help other women and their families who are struggling during good times and bad. And the bill is a tribute to Lilly Ledbetter who has paved the way.”
Ledbetter worked for nearly 20 years at a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, learning only through an anonymous note that she was being paid less than her male counterparts. In overturning an earlier court’s decision, the Supreme Court argued that Ledbetter had waited too long to sue for pay discrimination, stating that Ledbetter would have had to file a claim within 180 days of her company’s decision to pay her less. The decision was widely criticized, as Ledbetter filed her claim as soon as she became aware of the discrimination, but had no means of knowing that she was being discriminated against beforehand. |
|
|
