WOMEN ON THE JOB CELEBRATES NATIONAL EQUAL PAY DAY 2007
Women on the Job Advocates for the NYS Fair Pay Bill (A2712 S3936)
PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK- April 4, 2007 — With thousands of Pay Day Candy Bars (a product of Hershey Corporation) and literature in hand the Women on the Job Task Force will sprang into action by visiting railroad stations, legislative offices, and colleges and universities across Long Island on April 24th to educate the public about the importance of recognizing National Equal Pay Day and to advocate for passage of The New York Fair Pay Bill (A2712/ S3936). “As we once again observe National Equal Pay Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to justice and equality in the workplace” says Lillian McCormick, Executive Director of Women on the Job. With the cooperation of Adelphi, CW Post – LIU, Dowling, Five Towns College, Hofstra University, Nassau Community College, NYIT, Stony Brook University, St. Joseph’s College, and Suffolk County Community College, WOJ sent the message of the need for gender equality to future generations of working men and women.
National Equal Pay Day, proclaimed by President Clinton on April 3, 1998 is the day in which a typical woman's earnings, when added to her previous year’s wages, will finally equal what the typical man earned in that previous year alone. According to an August 2006 study conducted by The Institute for Women's Policy Research entitled The Gender Wage Ratio: Women's and Men's Earnings, a typical woman who worked full-time in 2005 earned just 77 cents for each dollar that the typical man earned that same year. National Equal Pay Day calls upon everyone to recognize the full value of the skills and contributions of women in the labor force and for employers to review their wage practices to ensure that all their employees are paid equitably for their work. Achieving Equal pay provides benefits to all working Americans. It empowers us to become more self-sufficient, reducing the dependence of many families on government assistance, can increase purchasing power, pension, and improves our capacity to save, all of which help to strengthen our economy. “National Equal Pay Day gives us and other organizations like Women on the Job an opportunity to educate the public about Pay Equity and Comparable Worth. Additionally, 2007 is an important year because up until now Pay Equity legislation had only passed the NYS Assembly. This year, the New York State Fair Pay Bill is being sponsored by New York State Senator Craig Johnson. Passing Bill A2712 S3936 will provide protection against pay discrimination and would require employers to compensate their workers equally based on skill, effort, responsibility and education. It would also enable employees the freedom to speak about their salaries without the threat of being fired or reprimanded” explains McCormick. “Many in support of passing the NYS Fair Pay Bill have been working diligently over the years, both writing to and meeting with members of the State Labor Committee to gain their support for the NYS Fair Pay Bill. Look for the Women on the Job Task Force on National Equal Pay Day 2008 and become a part of the movement towards Equal Pay!”
Women on the Job was recognized for their participation in National Equal Pay Day 2007 by Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. Please visit our Photo Gallery to view our Task Force Members in action.
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