Take Action: Support Equal Pay for Women

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Support Equal Pay for Women
Soon, the Senate could consider the Paycheck Fairness Act (S 182), legislation that would strengthen our nation's laws barring wage discrimination. In 1963, Congress passed the historic Equal Pay Act, legislation that made it illegal for employers to discriminate based on gender. But, despite this important step toward equal pay, reports show that today women still earn only 78 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. To remedy this injustice, S 182 would discourage wage discrimination by strengthening penalties for equal pay violations and prohibiting retaliation against workers who inquire about employers' wage practices or disclose their own wages. The bill also requires employers and the Department of Labor to: show that wage gaps are truly a result of factors other than sex, collect better data on wages, reinstate activities that promote equal pay, and develop trainings to teach women salary negotiation skills. Because the Paycheck Fairness Act would help prevent discrimination from occurring at all, it is a necessary companion to the Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, legislation signed into law on January 29, 2009 that reinstated important legal protections for victims of wage discrimination.

Subject:

Dear [Decision maker's name automatically inserted here],

(Edit Letter Below)

I urge you to cosponsor the Paycheck Fairness Act (S 182) and oppose any weakening amendments and any motion to recommit that may be proposed during the floor debate.

The Paycheck Fairness Act is critical legislation that directly impacts women's economic security. Specifically, the bill strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by taking steps to encourage more transparency in the workplace; provide more training for, and enforcement by appropriate government agencies; and strengthen penalties against employers who violate equal pay laws.

In the decades since the passage of the Equal Pay Act, the wage gap has narrowed. However, women continue to earn 78 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. This disparity compromises the economic security of women, children, and families and constitutes an affront to civil rights and economic justice that must be rectified.

Earlier this year, the Senate took an important step toward wage equality when it passed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. Now, it is time to take the next step by enacting the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that gives employees and employers additional tools to end pay discrimination.

I urge you to co-sponsor and vote for the Paycheck Fairness Act as it is currently written.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]


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