On Equal Pay Day, Rep. Subeck Calls for Action to Close the Gender Wage Gap
"It is shameful that women are still not compensated with equal pay for equal work."
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. Equal Pay Day is determined by examining data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the most recent annual review of the gender pay gap by the American Association of University Women, Wisconsin ranks in the bottom half of the nation for gender pay equity. Women in Wisconsin earn just 80 cents on the dollar, according to the report, which estimates closing the pay gap nationally will take until the year 2059 based on the rate of change between 1960 and 2017. However, progress has slowed since 2001, meaning it could be as long as the year 2106 before gender pay equity is achieved.
“It is shameful that women are still not compensated with equal pay for equal work. The fact of the matter is, women are often the primary breadwinners for their families, making the wage gap a significant issue of economic security for Wisconsin families,” said Rep. Subeck.
Equal Pay Day should be a reminder that immediate action is needed to close the gender wage gap. About two thirds of low-wage workers such as nursing aides, child care workers, and restaurant servers are women. It is crucial that in addition to addressing discrimination and pay transparency, equal pay policies must address living wages, family leave, and affordable health care.
“Since the repeal of Wisconsin’s Equal Pay Enforcement Act, women facing pay discrimination have been left without state protection or recourse. It is time to raise wages and build a fairer economy for all Wisconsinites by restoring Wisconsin’s Equal Pay Enforcement Act. The Wisconsin way forward to economic prosperity depends upon the economic success of our working women and their families.” said Rep. Subeck.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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