CPA News Releases, Advisories, and Editorials

Wage Gap Not Just a Matter of Nickels and Dimes
State Leaders Issue Challenge to Secure Equal Pay for Working Families

Washington, D.C. – Culminating on February 7, state legislators, union leaders and grassroots advocates in at least 12 states across the country (AL, AZ, CO, CT, GA, MA, MN, NM, NV, SC, TX, WI, WV) will sound a challenge to secure equal pay this legislative session for the thousands of working families who are unable to become self-sufficient or reach their full earning potential because they are not paid fairly based on their race and gender. State leaders will hold press conferences to announce their support for equal pay legislation.

This Challenge to Secure Equal Pay for Working Families is coordinated by the Center for Policy Alternatives, a nonpartisan policy and leadership center in Washington, D.C. “We know that a dramatic wage gap exists and that both women and men want this resolved. States are putting forward very workable, straightforward solutions to address this. It is time to deliver on this issue,” states Linda Tarr-Whelan, President of the Center for Policy Alternatives.

On average, families lose over $4,000 each year due to the gender wage gap alone. In America, people’s wages should be based on the value of their work. But for many women, African Americans, Latinos and others, that American promise remains unfulfilled and families are paying the price. Women earn 72 cents for every dollar earned by men, according to the Census Bureau. African Americans are paid 78 cents for every dollar earned by whites and Latinos earn 67 cents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (which uses a different method of calculation than the Census Bureau). More than half of women workers are concentrated in sales, clerical and service jobs including child care, elder care and nursing – jobs that continue to be underpaid because they are seen as “women’s work.” Studies have shown that these positions typically pay less than jobs traditionally held by men, even if they require the same skill, effort and responsibility to do the work. Research also shows that the wage gap exists regardless of occupation or title – women who are managers, physicians and computer programmers are paid less than their male counterparts.

Several states are proposing very workable, straightforward solutions. One approach that many are taking as a first step, the Equal Pay Remedies and Enforcement Act, would toughen the penalties for violations of existing state equal pay law and create a statewide job evaluation study to identify state-specific causes and solutions to wage inequity. Job evaluation studies to fix wage discrimination are commonplace procedures in both the public and private sectors, and similar studies have been performed in a number of states (WA, ME, NH, VT, and IN). Today, two out of three workers are employed by firms that use some form of job evaluation. Other approaches include raising the wages for specific sectors that are traditionally underpaid, or prohibiting wage discrimination for jobs of comparable worth in the public or private sectors, and instituting stronger tracking and reporting requirements.

“Equal pay isn’t about party politics. It’s a concern that unites women and men across lines of party and race. Securing equal pay puts money directly back into families’ pocketbooks and gives them what they need to be self-sufficient,” says Tarr-Whelan.

Linda Tarr-Whelan, President of CPA and a national expert on a wide range of economic and work and family issues, is available for comment by calling Kristina Wilfore at (202) 956-5141. State legislators and policy advocates are also available for comment. For the latest data on equal pay, refer to www.stateaction.org

Alabama Contact:
Rep. Laura Hall, Alabama House of Representatives (256) 859-2234

Arizona Contact:
Senator Joe Eddie Lopez, Arizona State Senate (602) 542-4171

Colorado Contacts:
Representative Sue Windels, Colorado House of Representatives (303) 866-2962
Linda Meric, 9 to 5 (303) 628-0925
Karen Amidon, Colorado Women. s Agenda (303) 863-7336

Connecticut Contact:
Leslie Brett, Connecticut Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (860) 240-8300

Georgia Contacts:
Senator Connie Stokes, Georgia State Senate (404) 656-5114
Representative Nan Orrock, Georgia House of Representatives (404) 651-7737

Minnesota Contacts:
Representative Karen Clark, Minnesota House of Representatives (651) 296-0294
Senator Ellen Anderson, Minnesota State Senate (651) 296-5537

Texas Contact:
Representative Senfronia Thompson (512) 463-0720