June, 09 2009, 02:30pm EDT
ACLU Marks 46th Anniversary of Equal Pay Act With Call For Paycheck Fairness Act
Legislation Is Needed To Close Loopholes In Fair Pay Law
WASHINGTON
The American Civil Liberties Union marks the 46th
anniversary of the Equal Pay Act with a call for the Senate to pass S.
182, the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that gives employees the legal
tools needed to fight wage discrimination. Forty-six years ago tomorrow
- on June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act,
a law that prohibits wage discrimination. Unfortunately, over the last
few decades, loopholes and weak remedies have watered down the Act's
effectiveness.
Back
in January 2009, the House of Representatives recognized the need to
update the Equal Pay Act and overwhelmingly passed the Paycheck
Fairness Act with bipartisan support. The bill is still pending before
the Senate.
in January 2009, the House of Representatives recognized the need to
update the Equal Pay Act and overwhelmingly passed the Paycheck
Fairness Act with bipartisan support. The bill is still pending before
the Senate.
The following can be attributed to Deborah J. Vagins, ACLU Legislative Counsel:
"The 46th
anniversary of the Equal Pay Act is a good reminder that the Senate
needs to join the House in working to finally secure equal pay for
equal work for all Americans workers. Congress needs to close the
loopholes in this 46-year-old law by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act.
anniversary of the Equal Pay Act is a good reminder that the Senate
needs to join the House in working to finally secure equal pay for
equal work for all Americans workers. Congress needs to close the
loopholes in this 46-year-old law by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act.
"In
this economic slump, passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act is essential
not only for women, but for all working families. Under any
circumstances, single-mother households and families dependent on two
wage earners should not have to struggle to live on less than they
rightfully deserve. The impact of these pay disparities is felt even
more during these times of economic hardship. We urge the Senate to act
quickly."a
this economic slump, passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act is essential
not only for women, but for all working families. Under any
circumstances, single-mother households and families dependent on two
wage earners should not have to struggle to live on less than they
rightfully deserve. The impact of these pay disparities is felt even
more during these times of economic hardship. We urge the Senate to act
quickly."a
The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 and is our nation's guardian of liberty. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
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