Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Obama Signed Pay Discrimination Legislation!

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Boosts Protections Against Shortchanging Employees During An Economic Recession

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON – Today the American Civil Liberties Union applauds President Barack Obama’s speedy enactment of legislation reversing the Supreme Court ruling in Ledbetter v. Goodyear, in which employees lost their right to their day in court for ongoing wage discrimination. Less than 48 hours ago, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Senate approved version of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by a vote of 250-177, sending the bill to President Obama’s desk.

“By swiftly signing the Ledbetter legislation into law, President Obama insures that employees, regardless of their gender, race, national origin, age, or disability, are protected from the additional burdens of pay disparities during an economic recession,” said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. “This law lifts the free pass employers received for ongoing unlawful pay disparities. This law now allows employees the ability to bring home every dollar that is rightfully earned.”

ACLU Legislative Counsel Deborah J. Vagins added, “The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act rights the wrong done by the Supreme Court in Ledbetter v. Goodyear. With this law, people who have suffered pay discrimination can once again seek vindication without facing unduly and unfairly restrictive deadlines. Now that Congress and the President have restored access to the courthouse, it is time to close the loopholes that make wage discrimination possible by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act.”


Take action to let your representatives know how you feel about equal pay.

Congratulate Lilly Ledbetter online.

For background information on Ms. Ledbetter's struggle, see Fariness in Pay--NOW! (08/08) on Losing Proposition blog.

For exact details of the wage gap, see this post Could You Use an Extra $434,000 (12/08) on this blog.


4 comments:

Jackie said...

Interesting. Good to hear.

I had the same problem here working as a Manager for Goodyear's opposition even though our constitution forbids it. It's a put up with it or get out situation most the time Worldwide for females.

CyberCelt said...

@Jackie-that is awful. Did you report it?

We have a Goodyear in town and they have had a woman manager for years. I am going to go have a talk with her.

Thanks for sharing!

Jackie said...

Not worth it here. Being on my own needed the job and there were thousands of qualified unemployed to replace me so let it be.

CyberCelt said...

I had a friend who was being sexually harassed in the workplace. She filed suit on the guy and got a lawyer... all it did was give her something to explain on the next 10 interviews. Hopefully, the next generation of women will not have to deal with it. Sorry you did.

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