Women still denied right to equal pay!

***icnmgrjill*** · 04-28-2008, 10:50 AM

(Sent by ICN Member NanciK)

Yesterday, the Senate failed to pass the Fair Pay Act, which would allow women to demand equal pay for equal work. Senator McCain (R-AZ), who didn't even come to vote, said that instead of legislation allowing them to demand equal pay, women simply need "education and training." Not only is his information wrong -- women still are all too often paid less for the same work, even though they have the same education and training -- he's also sending a message to our nation, to our sons and daughters, that this pay gap is okay, and it's women's fault for being paid less.

So to send a message to Congress, and specifically Senator McCain, I signed this petition for Fair Pay and sent Senator McCain my resume -- to show that women have plenty of education, what we need is Fair Pay. You should send yours too!

http://www.momsrising.org/fairpaymccain

Don't worry if you don't have your resume perfected -- you can just write a quick note.

Women now make up 58% of college graduates and nearly half of the labor force, but still earn less pay for the same work as men. Worse yet, mothers only make 73 cents to a man's dollar, for the exact same job. College graduate, high school graduate, law school diploma, nursing degree, whatever your training; women should make equal pay for equal work. Don't you agree?

**justice4j** · 04-28-2008, 05:47 PM

Jill,
Your post is brilliant! But, I so wish that we as women didn't need to post or sign petitions to achieve equal pay. Unfortunately, there are the McShames of this country who are up to their *** in ignorance and mysogeny. ERRR

Maybe this is partly related to IC still needing more funding...it's largely diagnosed in females.

***ICNDonna*** · 04-29-2008, 02:43 AM

There are inequities in every field. Even those who say they offer "equal pay" don't actually.

Donna

**blueangel** · 04-29-2008, 07:39 AM

Thank you Jill for that information. I signed the petition. Which I agree is unfair that we even have to but I really believe Senator McCain just made a big mistake by making that comment. I am enraged. Maybe he should go back to school.

**lissad** · 04-29-2008, 01:12 PM

If this were ever a reason to not support more of the same in Washington ! Mccain is worried about lawsuits if this had passed yet there would not be a need for such litigation in this country if women were paid equally . We do not want this dog and pony show of fighting for equal pay .. it should be a natural right to just know we are treated equally .
You know all we want to do is work , think , be productive and receive the same respect and pay as men .. How sad in this country we have to go thru hoops .. Ok done with the rant .Thanks for sharing ! Rock on Ladies !

**justice4j** · 04-29-2008, 06:31 PM

You absolutely rock girl! Go LISSA!

**CaliAnn** · 05-02-2008, 01:58 AM

I am a software engineer which is a male dominated field - at my last job, there were 45 male engineers and myself. I fought and fought for equal pay, but they always came up with some excuse or other for not giving it to me..... So I started my own business and now make more than I ever possibly could working for anyone else - equal pay or no!

I think it's ridiculous we even have to have a law that says you have to do the right thing.

**Berkshire Road** · 05-02-2008, 10:33 AM

The right to equal pay for equal work by Government employers is already guaranteed by the 5th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution; equal treatment in many, many other areas is guaranteed under Federal, and in many cases State, civil rights legislation.

The real shame is that enforcement of the existing protections is non-existent, and that we need yet another law to spell out the screamingly obvious. Women are the majority in this country; we need to pull together and make our collective voices heard. When I consider that my daughters may still face the same kinds of inequities that my great-grandmother faced, I don't even know how to respond to that. It's an outrage.

I signed the petition. I graduated from a Preparatory School, an Ivy League University, hold more than one advanced degree including a doctorate, and speak four languages. When I was hired at my last position as an Instructor in a large State (government employer) University, I was paid less than my predecessor earned; seven years later I was still making less than he started at, although he had not even completed his Masters when he was hired. Thanks, Senator McCain. I hadn't realized I just needed more education and training. I'll get right on that...