 Working Women Cheer Senate Vote to Close Wage GapWorking Women Cheer Senate Vote to Close Wage Gap BPW/USA Lauds Support for Working Women and Their Families January 22, 2009 Washington, DC -- Business and Professional Women/USA ( “Passage of this bill in the first month of the 111th Congress clearly demonstrates that the Senate recognizes that wage discrimination is still a very real problem in the According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women who work full time earn, on average, only 78 cents for every dollar men earn. The figures are even worse for women of color with Black women only earning 66 cents and Latinas 54 cents on the dollar. Frett stated, “Women deserve equal pay for equal work and a fair shot at challenging pay discrimination. Pay discrimination costs women between $400,000 to $2 million in lost wages over a lifetime; they retire with less money and endure economic instability throughout their lives. Women tend to be hurt first and worst during economic downturns and would benefit from an immediate equitable economic stimulus.” The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act rights the wrongs done by the Supreme Court in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., reinstating previous rules protecting workers and ensuring people who have been discriminated against can seek vindication in a timely matter. “BPW/USA urges the Senate to continue the effort to ensure equal pay for equal work and take up the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is an important step in closing the wage gap between men and women by strengthening and giving teeth to the Equal Pay Act and closing loopholes that have allowed employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay,” Frett said. “Earlier this month, the Paycheck Fairness Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives by an overwhelming margin and is simply awaiting consideration in the Senate.” Founded in 1919, For more information on BPW/USA membership options and policies impacting women and families, visit www.bpwusa.org.
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