BREAKING NEWS:
NYC Council Calls for State and Federal Pay Equity Laws

June 12, 2008: The New York City Council overwhelmingly approved resolutions calling for the passage of the New York Fair Pay Act and comparable federal Pay Equity legislation. Addressing the Council, Councilmember Letitia James, sponsor of Res. No. 896A and, Councilmember Helen Sears, Chair of the Women’Äôs Issues Committee and sponsor of Res. No.1152, highlighted the critical need for these legislative solutions to wage inequities. The Equal Pay Coalition NYC, a growing consortium of civic organizations, advocates and experts coordinated by the New York Women’Äôs Agenda, was a driving force in this important step toward ending persistent economic discrimination in NYS and NYC. The Equal Pay Coalition NYC thanks Councilmembers Sears and James for their leadership and commends the Council for this clear message to Albany and to Congress that when it comes to Pay Equity’Ķ.NYC means business!

The Council’Äôs Resolutions are a direct response to recent efforts in Albany and Washington to thwart passage of Equal Pay legislation. In New York this April, instead of supporting the Fair Pay Act Bill that has passed in the Assembly since 2002, State Senator Joseph Robach, chair of the Labor Committee, introduced a substitute bill asking for yet another study, estimated to cost $1,000,000. This bill would inevitably stall passage of comprehensive legislation and would be an enormous and unconscionable cost to taxpayers since so many studies already exist. With advocates statewide, EPCNYC is calling for action, not more studies.

Time has not remedied continuing wage inequity, making strong laws a top priority. Although more than 40 years ago Congress outlawed wage discrimination based on sex, women and people of color in the U.S. are still underpaid for the work they are doing. On average a women makes 77 cents on the dollar as compared to men. Those are dollars that don’Äôt add up every week, underscoring that Equal Pay is a family pocket book issue. Those lost earnings impact the lives of women, their families and our communities. (More information can be found at: www.nywa.org)

With historic numbers of women in the workforce, and almost half are heads of households, fair pay is a top priority of women voters. The Equal Pay Coalition NYC is working to give voice to this issue. Make sure your voice is counted -- express your support! Thank your Council member for standing up for economic justice! Go to: http://www.nywa.org/call_to_action.html#actionalerts

EQUAL PAY COALITION NYC

A Better Balance
AAUW ’Äì Manhattan
AAUW ’Äì NYC
Catalyst
Center for the Women of New York
CUNY - Howard Samuels Center
Junior League of the City of New York
League of Professional Theatre Women NY
League of Women Voters of the City of NY
Legal Momentum
Manhattan Chamber of Commerce-
Women’Äôs Business Committee
National Association of Female Executives
Nat’Äôl Association of Women Business Owners NYC

NY Coalition of 100 Black Women
NYC Coalition of Professional Women in Arts & Media
New York Women’Äôs Agenda
9 To 5: Nat’Äôl Association of Working Women
NOW-NYC
100 Black Men
Roundtable of Food Professionals-NYC
Women in Development, New York
Women in Health Management
Women on the Job Taskforce-NYSPEC
Women’Äôs Center for Education & Career Advancement
Women's City Club of New York
Authors Ellen Bravo, Debra Condren and
Barbara Ehrienrich
List as of 6/12/08

For further information contact:
Beverly Neufeld bneufeld@optonline.com or Joan D .Firestone: JDF248@aol.com
Co-Chairs, Government Affairs, New York Women’Äôs Agenda

NYWA ’ñ° P.O. Box 8419, FDR Station, New York, NY 10150-8419
Phone/Fax 212 937-2411 ’ñ° nywa@adminoffice.biz ’ñ° www.nywa.org
100 Organizations ’îÇ100,000 Women ’îÇOne Voice