PRESS RELEASES
Recent Supreme Court Decision Makes Action Needed Urgent;
Two Thousand New Yorkers Demand Passage of the NYS Fair Pay Act
June 13, 2007 |
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Note: This is a press release from the New York State Pay Equity Coalition
ALBANY, NY -- Representatives of the New York State Pay Equity Coalition (NYSPEC) today at 11:00 a.m. will deliver more than 2,000 petition signatures to Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Gov. Eliot Spitzer, asking them to pass the New York State Fair Pay Act-legislation that would protect women and people of color from pay discrimination.
NYSPEC will also deliver copies of the petitions to Assembly Speaker Silver with a letter thanking him for his past and continuing support of the NYS Fair Pay Bill (A.2712/S.3936).
At a news conference in Albany this morning, Pay Equity Coalition representatives and key legislators detailed the dangers posed by the loss of federal equal pay protections, following the U.S. Supreme Court's May 29, 2007 Ledbetter v. Goodyear decision. There has been much concern expressed about what the Court might do to reproductive choice but no one suspected they would render unenforceable the federal equal pay for equal work protections in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Dissenting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted that protesting pay inequities within 180 days of hire is practically impossible.
The solution, coalition members say, is passage of the NYS Fair Pay Bill (A.2712/S.3936).
"The NYS Fair Pay Act provides all those employed in NYS with freedom of speech regarding their salaries," said NYSPEC Education Coordinator, Barbara Smith. "It also assures that job titles where women and people of color predominate receive equal pay for work of equal value. Employees deserve the right to share salary information with co-workers, without fear of repercussions from employers."
Marcia Pappas, President of NYS NOW, stressed that "Without salary information, workers cannot know whether they are receiving equal pay and especially not within the 180 days specified by the Supreme Court. A lack of access to salary information in the private sector renders the State and Federal equal-pay-for-equal-work laws useless."
"The difficulties that arise from wage discrimination go beyond severe financial burdens. There is also the grief a person endures due to lacking independence, security and equality," said Assembly member Susan John, Assembly sponsor of the bill. "They impact Social Security benefits and pensions-forcing women and people of color to shoulder the burden of wage discrimination long after they've stopped working."
"Pay equity is a well-documented reality, but in light of the Federal courts' narrow interpretations of existing legislation, New York law must go further to guarantee that it is realized," said Melanie Trimble, Executive Director of the Capital Region's Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union. "This proposed legislation will ensure that individuals will receive fair and equitable wages as their counterparts for performing skills of comparable worth, and will prevent discrimination against employees who share salary information. It's time that the true intent of the existing legislation is carried out, and pay equity is clearly defined in New York law."
The State Assembly has overwhelmingly passed the NYS Fair Pay Bill (A2712 John) every year since 2002. Senator Craig Johnson, who sponsors the Fair Pay bill in the Senate, noted that, "It is time for the Senate majority to finally allow this bill out of committee for a vote. In this day and age, there is no excuse why equal pay is not given for work of equal value. We unfortunately live in a world where this legislation is not only necessary, but vital to many working families in New York," Johnson, (D-Port Washington), said.
With the loss of the federal equal pay protections, workers in New York now more than ever are calling for a strong, enforceable state law to keep them from being paid less because of gender and race.
Lillian McCormick, Executive Director of Women on the Job, said "The NYS voters who signed these petitions are asking Senator Bruno, the Senate majority, and the Governor to make freedom of salary speech and pay equity a right for all workers in NY State. It is astounding for the majority of workers not to have these basic rights in the 21st century. Pay equity is just good personnel policy. The laws of New York State should make it clear that workers of all races and genders are to be paid fairly in our state."
NYSPEC is a coalition of organizations supporting the passage of pay equity legislation in NY State including unions, women's and girls' organizations, civil rights and civic organizations. Following is a partial list of NYSPEC members: New York State United Teachers, United University Professions, United Public Service Employees Union, Service Employees International Union, Public Employees Federation, New York State Nurses Association, District Council 37, NYS Girl Scout Legislative Network, Women's Sports Foundation, Capital District Labor and Religion Coalition, National Association for Female Executives, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, National Organization for Women, American Association of University Women, NYS Business and Professional Women's Clubs, NY Women's Agenda, Long Island Fund for Women & Girls, the NYS League of Women Voters and Women on the Job Task Force (NYSPEC's founding organization).
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