Brecha Salarial Nueva York

Did you know: Hispanic women on average, working full-time in New York State have to work 21 months to earn as much as white males make in 12 months?

Welcome to Brecha Salarial Nueva York, PowHer New York’s initiative to close the Latina wage gap in New York State. Below is a collection of quotes and stories from advocates, community members and politicians on the personal impact of the wage gap and ideas of how to close it.

If you would like to submit a response of your own please email abby@powherny.org


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Carol Robles-Román 
President and CEO, Legal Momentum
Latinas work hard to support our  families, yet many of us earn much less than our white or male colleagues – just 54% of what white men earn. Equal pay for equal work is the law of the land. We need to make that a reality and not just a slogan. Legal Momentum applauds state and federal legislators, including in New York, who are championing new laws so women of color are fairly compensated in line with what their male counterparts earn. And we applaud the landmark  new California law just signed by Governor Brown that will speed progress towards fair pay for all women.

Annabel Palma 
NYC Council Member
Today, women are still making less than their male counterparts, but the wage disparity is more egregious for Latina women, who are making 46 cents on the dollar compared to Caucasian men.   Women are vital to our state’s economy, and with the existing wage gap, women are losing income that could be spent on food, health care, rent, and other needs for their families. I’m proud that my colleagues in the state legislature have strengthened our equal pay law for women, but we still have work to do to end wage discrimination. I pledge to continue working towards this paramount goal.

Silda Palerm
Head, NYC Gender Equality Commission
Latino women are raising the largest generation of children in this country.  Denying the women equal pay is relegating a whole generation to a life of disadvantage and poverty.

Wendy Wark
VP for PowHer NY, Inclusion Strategy

How has the wage gap affected you or someone in your sphere?

Starting out at a lower rate than my white, male counterparts has impacted my earning power throughout my career.  When I was in my twenties, I supervised several people for a proxy processing firm on Wall Street, including an old army buddy of my boss.  One day I was in the Payroll office and looked down to see this person’s salary information.  He was making almost

50% more than me! In other words, for every $100. that I was paid, he was paid $150.!  I was livid! I marched into my boss’ office and demanded a raise. His response:  “Wendy, Dick has a

family to support, I cannot justify paying you that much money.”  I quit the job on the spot.  I think about that 46 cents on the dollar, $46. for every $100. that I could have used for tuition (I

was going to school at night), rent, food, clothes, and maybe even a vacation! I was always

lagging behind my white, male colleagues because they have always made at least 46 cents more than me.  

What can be done to close the 46cent wage gap experienced by Latinas in NY?

We can insist that legislation be passed guaranteeing both true equal pay for equal work (watch

those sliding pay scales), and salary transparency so that everyone knows what everyone is being paid for the work that they provide, including bonuses, raises, and benefits.