Press Release

Statement by AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Elizabeth Shuler on Equal Pay

More than 6.5 million AFL-CIO members are women, but every one of us stands united in fighting for equal pay. Today, women are paid 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, which basically means they’ve worked the first three months of this year for free. That’s not right.

For more than 50 years, equal pay law has been on the books but it hasn’t been enough. The best pay equalizer is union membership but most workers don’t have that advantage.  From equal pay to the minimum wage to strengthening workers’ rights, it’s more important than ever for our leaders to seriously address issues that help raise wages. President Obama’s executive order for federal contractors is a good start, but we need legislation and we need it now.

Contact: Josh Goldstein (202) 637-5018