Giannini: Is Pay Equity the Impossible Dream?
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
We hear it every election year. Candidates from all over the country promise to fight for pay equity for woman and minorities. It sounds good and is music to our ears but the truth is we are at the crossroads on this issue and have been for many years.
Recently, GoLocalProv reported that there are far more men in Governor Gina Raimondo's administration than woman and minorities and they are making more money even though they are holding similar positions. One of Governor Raimondo's campaign promises was to promote pay equity in her administration.
Last week, Governor Raimondo announced the RI Pay Equity Tip Line, a telephone line to report employers who violate the law banning gender-based wage discrimination. The tip line, 401-462-WAGE (9243) will be operated by the State Department of Labor and Training. It was announced that employees with pay disparity in the workplace will file a complaint on the Department of Labor and Training website. Department of Labor and Training nominee Scott R. Jensen was quoted in GoLocalProv, "This line will help our investigators find instances where employers are violating fundamental principles of fairness so we can do something about it."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWhile I am glad to see this Tip Line created, I have some questions as to how this will work.
First and foremost, will employees who are the victims of pay inequity call this tip line to report their discrimination? Or will they fear retribution or retaliation for speaking up against these injustices? And I don't want to hear that this can't happen because it does happen.
If employers were worried about being reprimanded for pay inequity, it wouldn't even exist in companies, businesses and government agencies.
I'd also like to know what action can or will be taken against these employers who are reported and found to be "violating the principles of fairness" and if state government agencies will be investigated as well if they are reported. If inadequacies are found to be accurate, can they be corrected? Is there an appeal process if the employee or employer does not agree with the decision? These are just some of the concerns and questions that should be asked concerning this new policy. This isn't a new issue and it's been a political issue a long time.
President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law on June 10, 1963 making it illegal for employers to pay women and men differently for the same work. At that time, women earned only 59 cents to the dollar earned by men. The president called it landmark legislation to ensure women entering the workforce find equality in their pay checks. Throughout the years, organizations such as the National Committee for Equal pay have continued to fight to end wage discrimination by advocating for legislation and promoting public awareness.
When I was a freshman legislator, I remember the late Rep. Suzanne Henseler (D-North Kingstown, asking me to co-sponsor legislation called the Pay Equity Act to create a board to enforce pay equity in state government. This was in 1995 and we sponsored the bill for years and we even wore tee-shirts to the state house that said "Equal Work, Equal Pay." Today, women make an average of only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. Women of color are especially hard hit. African-American and Hispanic woman earn only 70 percent and 61 percent respectively of what white men earn.
And it gets worse. Single women who are sole providers in their household feel the wage gap even more. One reason the wage gap exists is that men have been always considered the primary breadwinners in the household. Women were the caregivers of the family for their children and sometimes elderly parents, which made it difficult for them to enter the workforce. Many women put their careers on hold to tend to their families. Also, the cost of child care and elderly care prevented many women from entering the work force.
There are many things that can be done to promote pay equity. We need to invest in early childhood education , this would be a great asset for our children's educational aptitude and also provide parents with much needed flexibility and support to pursue their careers.We also need more affordable child-care options. Many woman want to work but simply cannot afford the cost of child care.
Equal pay is not just about getting the same pay monetarily. It's about providing everyone with the same economic chances to pursue their careers. It's about fighting for equality to compete for the same jobs and given the chance to show you can do them. It's also about providing a true economic future for all working families, whether they are headed by single women, married women, or men. It's also about giving a chance for everyone to pursue their dreams and achieve their goal of a better quality of life.
It's time to turn the Impossible Dream into the American Dream.
Joanne Giannini served as a RI State Representative from Providence from 1994 to 2010. She has previously written commentaries for the Providence Journal and the Federal Hill Gazette. During her tenure in the General Assembly, she made appearances on CNN, Primetime News, and American Morning regarding legislation she filed in Rhode Island.
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