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Today, April 19th is Equal Pay Day in America. You may ask why today we would
highlight the presence of inequality in salaries in America. The fact is that
today represents the day that full time, year round workingwomen finally catch
up with what men earned the previous year. Women in this country have to work
for 16 months in order to earn what a man earns in 12 months.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the average woman earned 76 cents
for every dollar earned by the average man. For women of color the numbers are
even more shocking. African American women earn 66 cents for every dollar earned
by a man. Latina women earn a mere 55 cents for every dollar earned by the average
man.
Women in Colorado earn even less than the national average. Workingwomen in
Colorado only earn 75 cents for every dollar that men earn.
It has been over four decades since Congress passed the Equal Pay Act. Democrats
continue to fight with women to ensure that their pay is not less than what
they deserve. Democrats value the notion of equality in all aspects of life,
while Republicans in Washington continue to ignore the problem.
The Colorado Democratic Party urges you to take time today to remember that
American women are equal in every aspect of our country. Women serve our country
proudly in the military and women pay the same taxes as men. Despite these facts,
women are still shortchanged in their pay.
Below you will find facts on Equal Pay, what Democrats are doing and suggestions
on what you can do to bring attention to this important issue.
Fast Facts on Equal Pay:
*The average woman earns 76 cents for every dollar earned by the average
man in American. The average salary for women in American is $30,724, compared
to $40,668 for men. (US Census Bureau)
*African American women earn 66 cents for every dollar earned by men in America.
(US Census Bureau)
*Latina women in America only make 55 cents for every dollar earned by average
men. (US Census Bureau)
*Estimates indicated that the average 25-year old woman can expect to lose
between $250,000 and $500,000 over the course of her life due to wage gaps.
*America's families lose $200 billion of income annually due to wage gaps.
*The average woman works at least one week each month-and three months each
year for free due to the wage gaps.
Democrats Taking Action:
*Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) will
introduce the Paycheck Fairness Act which will strengthen equal pay protect
through better enforcement.
*Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
will file the Fair Pay Act, which will address the problem of lower wages
in fields dominated by women and people of color.
How You Can Take Action:
*Contact your member of Congress to make sure they support the above-mentioned
legislation.
*Download an Equal Pay poster for your workplace: http://www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/women/equalpay/index.cfm
Sample I
Sample II |
