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Statement

Moms Leader Marks 55th Anniversary of Equal Pay Act, Calls on Lawmakers to Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act

June 7, 2018
Equal Pay

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and executive director of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the 55th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act:

“Sunday, June 10th marks the 55th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. While we continue to celebrate that momentous legislative achievement more than five decades after its passage, this anniversary serves as a troubling reminder that our country still has a long way to go in closing the wage gap, reducing economic inequality and improving financial security for working women and families.

 “Women of every race still earn, on average, 80 cents to every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man earns. That means women must work 15 months to earn what men earn in just 12. Mothers and women of color face even more punishing wage gaps. This pay discrimination is devastating for women, families, moms, businesses and our economy. It’s time to make a change.

 “The Equal Pay Act was an important first step in the fight for fair pay, and its passage made a world of difference to generations of working women. But it wasn’t enough to close the wage gap and is now more than a half century outdated. Members of Congress need to do more for women in our nation and our economy -- they must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.

 “The Paycheck Fairness Act would add protections to the Equal Pay Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act to address income inequities in the United States. Among other provisions, it would prohibit employers from retaliating against workers who discuss salaries with colleagues and require employers to prove that pay differences exist for legitimate, job-related reasons. This bill would provide much-needed updates to the Equal Pay Act to help our country move closer to pay equity.

 “The moms of America are frustrated that after 55 years, we are still not paid what men in this country are paid. We are tired of being economically devalued. We will continue to rise up and speak out until Congress builds on the Equal Pay Act’s foundation by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.