The Department of Labor announced it was lifting rules put in place by the Bush administration that made investigating pay discrimination claims nearly impossible.
For those of us living in the United States, this is a time of year for giving thanks. It is in that spirit that I have gathered a list of some of my favorite pieces of U.S. news on overcoming discrimination over the past couple of months.
This month, one of Belgium’s women’s rights organizations, zij-kant, caused quite a stir with their annual “Equal Pay Day” message. Instead of merely high-lighting that women in Belgium, on average, earn 22 percent less than men, the organization launched a video starring porn actress Sasha Grey with the message “Porn is about the only way women can earn more than men—find a better alternative.”
The Paycheck Fairness Act is set to be voted on in November. If it passes, the journey towards fair pay for women in the United States will get oh-so-much shorter.
April 20th, “Equal Pay Day,” is the day when the average female worker’s wages will finally catch up to her male counterpart’s salary from the prior year.
The Lilly Ledbetter Act leads to a triumphant victory for equal pay, as the Third Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled in favor of Mary Lou Mikula, holding that her Title VII pay discrimination claim had been erroneously dismissed on the basis that her charge was not timely.
The Lilly Ledbetter Act is a major victory for workers. But Congress must pass additional fair pay legislation, closing loopholes that currently prevent enforcement of equal pay laws.
Passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Act is a victory for workers, but more significant pay discrimination protections are still in Congress.
The Senate this afternoon passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, reversing a 2007 Supreme Court decision that requires employees to bring pay discrimination claims no later than 180 days after the first, and only the first, instance of pay discrimination.
The House today passed both the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act, restoring and establishing basic protections for employees who are subject to wage discrimination.
