WASHINGTON, DC – Working women lose out on $500 billion a year because of a persistent gender pay gap, with women paid only 80 cents, on average, for every dollar paid to a man.
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA), which amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, is a federal law that prohibits pay discrimination on the basis of sex. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency charged with enforcing the EPA and other employment discrimination laws. The EPA requires that employers pay similarly situated employees in the same establishment the same wage, regardless of sex, if they perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions. The law covers all types of payments made to employees, including salary, overtime pay, bonuses, stock options, life insurance, vacation and holiday pay, allowances, reimbursements, expenses, and benefits.
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| Today’s the day. April 10 marks Equal Pay Day, when women’s average earnings finally catch up to men’s earnings from the year before. With women’s average pay stalled at just 80 percent of men’s, today’s observance confirms what we already know: The gender pay gap is persistent and it’s pernicious.
I am so pleased to be a new member of the team here at AAUW taking on this fight. At our current rate of change the pay gap won’t close until 2119 — more than a century from now! We’re tired of waiting and we know that changes requires action. That’s why AAUW is tackling the gender pay gap from multiple angles including in-depth research, innovative programming, and strategic federal and state advocacy— but we can’t do it without you. Here’s how you can do your part to fight for fair pay today:
There’s no single solution to closing the gender pay gap. But by working together and addressing the problem on multiple fronts, we can create meaningful change for women, families, businesses, and the economy. Thank you for raising your voice with the thousands of AAUW advocates across the country taking action today for equal pay! Gratefully,
Deborah J. Vagins |
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1310 L St. NW, Suite 1000 |
Watch AAUW CEO Kimberly Churches discuss gender-based wage injustices with the #NotoriousRBG on CNN.
CNN article by AAUW CEO Kimberly Churches.
#SayNoToWageGap
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Next week, advocates across the country will observe Equal Pay Day 2018, the date that symbolizes how far women must work into 2018 to bring home the same pay as men did in just 2017 alone.
While the gender pay gap is nothing to celebrate, observing Equal Pay Day is a powerful way to raise awareness about the fight for fair pay — and that’s why we’re calling on you to take action.
Join AAUW on April 10 in a national Day of Action to close the gender pay gap by texting theword PLEDGE to phone number 21333 on your cell phone.
On Equal Pay Day – April 10, we’ll send you a reminder text with a toll-free phone number to reach your state legislators and demand pay equity. When you use our toll-free phone line, you’ll hear a simple call script before being connected directly to the office of your state legislator.
Closing the gender pay gap isn’t just the fair or right thing to do; it’s good for families, businesses, and the economy. That’s why we are joining together to demand that legislators pass strong pay equity bills in every state.
Let us know you’re committed to fighting for fair pay — text PLEDGE to phone number 21333 now!
