On March 26th, the PowHerNY Equal Pay Campaign (EPC) sponsored the 20th Annual New York Equal Pay Day in-person and online! Thank you to all our Network Partners, the EPC Committee, legislative leaders who sent quotes and friends who made this year’s activities so successful!
Online Actions: Our #EqualPayNY social media hour amplified wage inequality and called for NYS legislators to address the wage gap through the budget and legislation. If you have not already done so, pleasesign and share the action alert here: Link to Action Letter
Also, with our national coalition, Equal Pay Today!, we expressed strong disapproval of the EEOC’s efforts to rollback federal worker protections.
Great News: We have made progress! New York is ranked #1 in the country with the smallest wage gap! Full-time working women earn 91cents compared to full-time working men. Add in part-time workers, it is 81cents. Discussed here: NYSDOL study
However, all groups of NY women continue to earn significantly less than the highest paid group: white non-Hispanic men. NY Black women lose approximately $24,640 a year. That could pay for 15 months of rent or 2 years of groceries, making NY more affordable. Latinas lose $32,750 yearly which adds up over $1,300,000 of lost wages over a 40-year career. Lost wages impact women’s futures with reduced social security, retirement savings and assets. We have much work ahead!
Rally Lifts Up Our Issue and Voices: Once again, the Equal Pay Day rally was held in partnership with CWA Local 1180 whose amazing President Gloria Middleton organized the exciting event with Beverly Neufeld, EPC Co-Chair. Special thanks to NYC Speaker Julie Menin for hosting the rally at the City Hall rotunda and for her powerful remarks on pay equity. We were honored to be joined once again by NYS Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James, a long-time champion of our cause. Link to Rally Video
Additionally, NYC Council Member Farias, Chair of the Women’s Committee, and Council Members Brewer and Joseph, Co-Chairs of the Women’s Caucus, committed to continued action on pay equity. Robin Blair-Batte, CWA Secretary-Treasurer, recounted the union’s significant lawsuit victory for public workers. EPC Co-Chair Seher Khawaja of Legal Momentum and Shanita Bowen of ESCCC and ECE on the Move emphasized the urgent need for solutions to close the wage gap and improve affordability in New York. Thank you to the many Council Members who stopped at the rally to support us. Our chants reverberated through City Hall, raising awareness and building support for our movement!
Press: Menin, James Lead New York City Equal Pay Day Rally
Gender pay gap shrinks in NY, while widening nationally – Newsday
TAKE ACTION NOW! Sign and share our Action Alert telling NYS leaders to fund careworkers and paid leave in this year’s budget and pass the Benefits Transparency law