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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 7, 2014 12:47 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Katharine M. Watson |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Concurrent Resolution - Equal Pay Law |
| This year, 2014, marks the 55th anniversary of the Act of December 17, 1959 (P.L. 1913, No. 694) known as the "Equal Pay Law." It has provided a foundation for Pennsylvania women seeking opportunities in the workplace. The goal is fair compensation for all workers without wage discrimination. Nevertheless, we have all heard the statistics of women in the workplace, doing the same job, with the same educational background and experience, still earning less money than their male colleagues. Try this quiz and see how you measure up for your knowledge on workplace equality: (Answers follow at the end.) 1. In 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was passed, women made ____ cents on the dollar compared to men. a. 59 cents b. 63 cents c. 74 cents d. 81 cents 2. Today that figure is ____ cents on the dollar compared to men. a. 85 cents b. 91 cents c. 72 cents d. 77 cents 3. Over a lifetime, how much less will women earn than men? a. $550,000 b. $700,000 c. $1,200,000 d. $2,000,000 4. Women make up ____% of the American labor force today. a. 38 b. 42 c. 47 d. 50 Once again, I am introducing a concurrent resolution calling on the Joint State Government Commission to complete a definitive study on the issue of "workplace pay disparity," including the examination of existing State and Federal laws relating to the issue. Also, the resolution will ask the Commission to make recommendations to the General Assembly, based on their findings. The Commission will be tasked to complete its work and issue a report to the General Assembly by November 30, 2014. I respectfully ask for your support and co-sponsorship of this concurrent resolution. The next Pay Equity Day is April 8, 2014. That date symbolizes how far into year 2014 women must work to earn what their male counterparts earned doing the same job in 2013. Thank you. Answers: 1. a. 59 cents 2. d. 77 cents 3. b, c, and d are all correct, for women with high school, college, and professional postgraduate degrees respectively, according to Evelyn Murphy, economist and founder and president of the WAGE Project. 4. d. 50 % |
Introduced as HR716
Memo Updated: February 7, 2014 12:48 PM