Albany, NY – Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan) today announced that her legislation guaranteeing all civil servants in New York State, equal pay for similar or substantially similar work, has passed both the Assembly and the State Senate. The legislation will guarantee that anyone, particularly employees who are members of a protected class, who working in the same establishment are paid equally for similar or substantially similar work.

“There is nothing nuanced about the concept of equal pay for equal work, and yet we know that workers in our state are not being paid fairly or equally. This legislation will ensure that employees cannot slap a new title on an old job and pay a disabled, woman, gay or black employee less for doing essentially the same job,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF- Manhattan). “We cannot continue to inch toward pay equity when we can take the leap through a change in our laws.”

In 2019, in addition to opportunity barriers, women still make 79 cents to every dollar that men make for comparable work. Black women make 61 cents for every dollar earned by white men. Disabled people and trans people, particularly trans women, earn less than white male employees.

“The highly publicized struggle of the United States Women’s National Soccer for equal pay is but a microcosm of a schism that plays out in workplaces across our state and country. Here in New York State, you shouldn’t need to be a gold medal winner, or have the means to take your employer to court, to earn equal pay for substantially similar work. This legislation will guarantee a level financial playing field for civil servants in New York State doing similar work to other civil servants in our state,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal.