Closing the wage gap: It's a matter of survival for working families (Valerie Jarrett alert)

Washington Post ^ | September 17, 2010 | Valerie Jarrett

[reaganaut1]

America first put an equal-pay law on the books in 1963, when women earned 59 cents for every dollar earned by a man. While this legislation was landmark at the time, its core provisions require updating if it is to fulfill its promise.

Nearly 50 years later, the wage gap has narrowed by only 18 cents. Despite news reports that the gap narrowed in the last year, the census report released Thursday showed otherwise. Working women are still paid only 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man -- and are paid less than men even when they have similar levels of experience and education. For women of color the gap is larger. During a woman's lifetime, this disparity adds up to a substantial loss in income, retirement funds and even benefits.

In this harsh economic environment, the consequences of the pay disparity put women and their families, as well as our economy, at a significant disadvantage. We are still emerging from the deepest recession since the Great Depression. And while we have added private-sector jobs for eight straight months, we remain short of our goal of putting every American who wants a job back to work. Today, too many struggling families are still waiting to feel the benefits of economic progress.

...

The Paycheck Fairness Act will also improve federal agency access to wage-related data, while protecting confidentiality. When it becomes law, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will have access to important information from employers that, with time and analysis, will strengthen our ability to ensure compliance. The Labor Department will also be able to begin education and outreach efforts that will increase both employer and employee knowledge of their respective responsibilities and rights regarding equal pay.

[Spike Knotts]

In response to your post to me here.

Thanks, Professor

"Otherwise, every coldly-calculating businessman interested only in his company's bottom line would have no recourse but to fire all of his male employees and replace them with (preferrably black) female employees (who would then be paid only 77% as much for doing the same job)."

Coldly is an adverb ending in "ly" and doesn't require hyphenation, as it's modifying its verb by its very nature.

You're welcome!

Regards,