On Equal Pay Day, Women Demand Better

April 10, 2018

MADISON – Today marks Equal Pay Day, the day each year when women’s pay finally catches up to what men were paid during the previous year alone, due to the ongoing wage gap between men and women. Equal Pay Day is determined through examination of data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on updated numbers, each year, Wisconsin women are typically paid $10,959 less than men. African American and Latina women fare worse yet, with African American women earning $19,896 less a year and Latina women earning $24,123 less than white men.

“As we observe Equal Pay Day this year, women are rising up to change the shameful power dynamic that allows us not to be compensated with equal pay for equal work,” said Rep. Lisa Subeck (D – Madison). “Last week, we elected another women to our State Supreme Court, and women across Wisconsin and the country are taking to the streets, marching, organizing, and running for public office.”

Here in Wisconsin, women have been on the frontlines of the attacks that only further the impact of the pay gap. In 2012, Governor Walker and Republicans repealed Wisconsin’s Equal Pay Enforcement Act which was enacted in 2009 by Wisconsin Democrats to protect women from wage discrimination.

President Trump has taken the Republicans’ war on women to the federal level by repealing President Obama’s Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces order which required paycheck transparency and banned forced arbitration clauses for sexual harassment, sexual assault or discrimination claims. The rollback makes it easier for wage theft and means more private proceedings and secret agreements to cover up sexual harassment claims.

“Women are tired of unfair pay, discrimination and sexual harassment. From the #MeToo movement to record numbers of women running for office, we are fighting back,” said Rep. Subeck. “It is up to us, as women, to stand up for economic prosperity and equality. Together, we can and will close the wage gap.”

EqualPay.jpg