Assemblymember Cahill Supports Assembly Equal Pay for Equal Work Package

April 16, 2013

Albany, New York – Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Ulster, Dutchess) helped to pass three pieces of legislation out of the New York State Assembly today which would strengthen Equal Pay protections for women and minorities in the public and private sectors alike.

“According to a 2013 study by the National Committee on Pay Equity, women working full time, year round, make only 77 cents for every dollar that a typical male makes – and it gets even worse for women of color who earn anywhere from 62 to 54 cents for every dollar. There is no reason for this enormous gap in salaries between men and women, some of whom work side by side. It is imperative that we help end wage discrimination,” said Cahill.

To help achieve pay equity for all New Yorkers, Assemblymember Cahill voted today in favor of:

• A. 5958 (Heastie) Covering both private and public sectors, the Fair Pay Act would provide protection for all employees working in traditionally female job titles in New York State.
• A. 1729 (Jaffee) This bill seeks to ensure that each public sector employer in New York State pays non-biased compensation to job titles that have equivalent value.
• A. 753 (Rosenthal) This legislation requires the State to maintain equal pay for comparable worth for state employees in job titles where women and people of color predominate, and provides enforcement through the Civil Service Department.

“First and foremost, pay equity is about fairness for all people,” Assemblymember Cahill said. "I urge the Senate and Governor to join in, advancing these important pieces of legislation, which have passed the Assembly year after year. Their passage will help put an end to work-related discrimination and make New York a leader in wage fairness for others to follow.”

What's New