Thiele: Fighting for Pay Equity in New York

New York has long been hailed as a progressive state, one that has historically set the standard for equality in this nation. Unfortunately, there is still a major inequality that persists in New York — the wage gap — and it’s causing countless New Yorkers to be paid less than they should for comparable jobs.

Coming on the heels of the most productive legislative session in recent memory, this is a reminder that the Legislature’s work is not done in Albany.

Typically, the equal pay argument centers on what women are paid compared to men. However, the problem is much larger than that. Implementing true pay equity would ensure that all workers, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation, are paid the same as workers who do comparable work — because it is not just women who are discriminated against when it comes to the wage gap. Jobs should be evaluated in a completely fair way to decide what is comparable and employers should set a fixed value on the skill, effort, responsibility and education a job requires. Unfortunately, many do not, which is where state government must come in.

New York State needs to enact a law to make sure that workers are being paid what they deserve.

During this year’s legislative session, the Assembly passed legislation that would make it easier to enforce equal-pay policies and create a statewide comparable-salary policy. The bills would make it a discriminatory practice to compensate employees of different sexes differently for work that is of comparable worth (A.3690); enact the New York State Fair Pay Act to address and enforce pay equity (A.6130); make it a discriminatory practice for public employers to compensate employees of different sexes differently for work that is of comparable worth (A.6448); and establish a statewide policy of equal pay for both sexes and comparability of value of work and ensure corrective action (A.1780).

According to 2008 census statistics, women are making just 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. The numbers for minority women were even more staggering, with African-American women making 68 cents and Latinas making 58 cents for every dollar made by men. With nearly 40 percent of American homes relying on the woman as the family breadwinner, families are missing out on resources that could be used to pay bills, put food on the table and help pay the cost of a child’s education.

Our nation took a step in the right direction with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. The act amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to state that the 180-day statute of limitations for filing an equal-pay lawsuit regarding pay discrimination resets with each new discriminatory paycheck. This change of language works to protect ongoing wage discrimination, giving those affected more time and opportunity to fight for what they deserve.

Now it’s New York’s turn to lead on pay equity. It is irresponsible to not have a policy of paying wages based on skill, effort and experience, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. The Assembly has long fought for fairness in pay in New York, but the battle to enact a comprehensive pay equity law continues. Our state needs to move forward and create a more equitable pay system, for all workers.