Take Action on Pay Equity Day!
An action alert from the YDA Women's Caucus
In 1996, Equal Pay Day was created by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) as a way to raise awareness about the gap between men's and women's wages. The day, observed on a Tuesday in April, symbolizes how far into the year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year. (Tuesday is the day on which women's wages catch up to men's wages from the previous week.) Because women earn less, on average, than men, they must work longer for the same among of pay. The wage gap is even greater for most women of color.
Equal pay has been the law since 1963. But today, 45 years later, women are still paid less than men—even when we have similar education, skills and experience.
Ideas for Action
- Show "We're in the Red"
On April 22, wear red to symbolize “women are in the red”. - Coordinate a seminar on negotiation skills for women.
Economists agree that differences in negotiating abilities can lead to pay variation among workers with similar skill sets. This would be a great women’s caucus event if you have a women’s caucus in your state! - Host a Happy Hour
Ask attendees to wear red. Host drinks for a couple hours where women pay 77 cents to the $1.00 or another fun game with similar goals to illustrate women’s pay inequity. - Raise awareness
Send a pay equity e-card to your friends, family and colleagues to help highlight the issue. Click on this link HERE. - Become informed
Read up on research, employment laws, and current legislation being introduced to close the wage gap. Click on this link HERE. - Share the benefits with our Democratic and Non-Democratic brothers
Equal pay benefits men as well! Share this fact sheet with them by clicking HERE. - Contact Your Senators
Let them know that you want them to support the Fair Pay Restoration Act. Information on the Act can be found by clicking HERE.
Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121, or find your Senators and their direct phone numbers by clicking HERE.
To send them an email, click HERE.