BY Equal Pay Day was originated by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) in 1996 as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men’s and women’s wages. Because women earn less, on average, than men, they must work longer for the same amount of pay. The wage gap is even greater for most women of color.
Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) released the following statement on Equal Pay Day:
“Equal Pay Day serves as a stark reminder of the discrimination that women face in the workplace. The Equal Pay Act was signed into law 50 years ago, yet a significant pay gap between men and women remains. Women now make up around half of the workforce, but earn only 77 cents for every dollar that men earn for doing the same work. This disparity exists at all levels of education and occupation and is entirely unacceptable. Further, as women’s wages continue to make up a growing share of family incomes, pay inequality negatively impacts both children and spouses as well. This is not just a women’s issue; it is also a family issue.
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