Elected Officials Speak out in Support of Equal Pay Bill

BOSTON — On July 21, The Equal Pay Coalition hosted a press conference and rally in support of the Equal Pay Bill at the State House. The coalition was joined by legislators, the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators and officials in highlighting the importance of passing the Equal Pay Bill. They stood in solidarity with members of the public and rallied the crowd to voice their support and join them in Gardner Auditorium for the hearing of the bill before the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. “I am pleased that the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators has chosen Equal Pay as its priority legislation this session,” said Senator Anne Gobi (D – Spencer). “In 1923, Representative Susan Walker Fitzgerald was the first woman elected to the Massachusetts legislature and she was the first legislator to push for equal pay. We have been talking about this for far too long – now is the time to get something done.” Said Attorney General Maura Healey, “it’s 2015 and it’s long past time for employers in this state and across the country to pay women the same wage for the same work. When a women’s pay falls behind, families fall behind,” “We need to do better, because this isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s a core economic security challenge for our families and for our state.” Treasurer Deb Goldberg agreed. “Wage equality is not just a women’s issue,” she said. “It’s a family issue and it’s an economic imperative that affects the health and well-being of our entire state.” The Equal Pay Bill seeks to bridge the wage gap in three main ways: demand equal pay for comparable work, establish pay transparency, and require fairness in hiring practices.