On Equal Pay Day 2004, working women continue to struggle to be paid fairly for their work—women earned 77 cents to every dollar men earned in 2002. Working families lose $200 billion of income annually to the wage gap.

Equal pay has been the law since 1963. But today, over 40 years later, women are still paid less than men, even when they have similar education, skills and experience. The wage gap is even worse for most women of color. Latinas earn 56 cents and African American women earn 68 cents for every dollar men earn.

It is deeply ironic that the Bush Administration chose Equal Pay day as the day to release its overtime pay cut. The new overtime regulations will mean that many women—including some registered nurses, administrative workers, database administrators, team leaders, and others—will lose their overtime pay. 

Union representation is a proven and powerful tool for raising women’s wages and achieving equal pay. In fact, union women in the United States earn 33 percent more than women without a union. 

Equal pay can be addressed. Working women worldwide are standing up for and winning equal pay with the help of unions. Recent negotiations between the European Trade Union Council and employers resulted in an agreement that addresses sex segregation and equal pay. In Australia, the recent reduction in work hours by the Industrial Relations Commission represents a huge victory in the fight for equal pay on behalf of female-dominated sectors. Workers will be paid the same wages for three hours less per week, bringing them closer to parity with male-dominated professions that have enjoyed a shorter workweek for many years.  

It’s time that our nation’s leadership stopped scheming on how to slash women’s pay and instead stood up for equal pay for all women.

Contact: Suzanne Ffolkes 202-637-5018