News 12: Aug. 7 is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day in the United States, and state Sen. Marilyn Moore rationed out cups of free lemonade to raise awareness.
BRIDGEPORT— State Senator Marilyn Moore (D-Bridgeport) and women’s equality advocates today marked Black Women’s Equal Pay Day by hosting a “Gender Pay Gap Lemonade Stand” at McClevy Green during lunch hours.
August 7 is Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. The date symbolizes how far black women, on average, must work into 2018 to bring home the same pay as white, non-Hispanic men did in 2017—an additional 7 months! During Sen. Moore’s event, the amount of free lemonade poured into each cup depended on the person’s sex and race, thus representing the disparities in pay throughout Connecticut and the country.
“Many women were not pleased when their cup was not filled to the top, but that’s the financial reality that many women are facing because of the gender pay gap,” Sen. Moore said. “When women aren’t paid equally it’s a drain on families, businesses, and the economy as a whole.”
Here in Connecticut women on average are still earning 83 cents to every dollar that their male counterparts are. This disparity results in an annual wage gap of nearly $11,000. This gap only increases in the case of Black and Latina women, who earn just 63 cents and 54 cents per dollar respectively compared to their white male counterparts.
“It is appalling that in 2018, Black women must work an extra seven months to achieve equal pay,” said Kate Farrar, Executive Director of the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF). “Though we’ve made progress here in Connecticut, we urge lawmakers to continue to pass solutions to combat the gender wage gap, including comprehensive paid family and medical leave. We applaud and thank Senator Marilyn Moore for her continued advocacy and leadership to uplift women’s economic security and her recognition of this day.”
This year, in an effort to begin closing the gender pay gap, Sen. Moore and Senate Democrats led passage of An Act Concerning Pay Equity. Under this bill, employers would be prohibited from asking prospective employees about their previous wages, as evidence shows women disproportionately carry lower salaries from one job to the next. The new law will be key to reducing the poverty rate of single, working mothers in the state, which is currently at 24.4 percent and will help prevent women from being locked into the status of being offered lower salaries because they were underpaid in their previous jobs.
“While this new law helps us move closer to closing the gender pay gap, it’s still not enough,” Sen. Moore said. “Connecticut also needs to increase the minimum wage, pass earned paid family and medical leave, and end on call shift scheduling. We have a lot more work to do to close this gap and it’s up to all communities to send the right people to Hartford who will fight for pay equity and women’s equality.”
Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) today received the 2017 AARP Legislative Achievement Award in recognition of her leadership on keeping utilities affordable for Connecticut seniors.
“I am honored to be recognized for my efforts to protect seniors in my district and across Connecticut,” Sen. Flexer said. “As a state legislator, I have been able to work with the Connecticut AARP on many important issues affecting the lives of seniors in the communities I represent and I look forward to continue working with them. Seniors have a strong voice at our Capitol that stands up to the special interests.”
“In 2017, your efforts to protect ratepayers by being a champion in opposition of the special deal for the Millstone Nuclear Powerplant were admirable. We thank you for your support,” said AARP State Director Nora Duncan.
Flexer has worked closely with the AARP on numerous issues including utility rate payer protection, paid family and medical leave, senior fraud protection and consumer protection for seniors. This is the fifth time that AARP has recognized Senator Flexer for her leadership.