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Ceretto: Assembly passes pay equity legislation ahead of National Equal Pay Day

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Tue, Apr 12th 2016 02:40 pm

Assemblyman John Ceretto (D-Lewiston) supported a package of legislation Monday to help close the wage gap in New York. The passage coincides with National Equal Pay Day (April 12). The date symbolizes how far into the current year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year.

"We've made great progress for women's rights in this country, but Equal Pay Day is a time for us to reflect on how far we still have to go," Ceretto said. "We must continue working toward equal rights, because when women succeed, our families succeed."

On Monday, Ceretto helped pass the following bills in the New York State Assembly designed to narrow the wage gap:

  • Compensate employees in state service equally for work of equivalent value (A.437);
  • Study and publish a report evaluating among public employers the existence of wage disparities related to the job titles (A.5008);
  • New York State Fair Pay Act, which would establish paying different wages between employees on the basis of sex, race, or national origin is discriminate and an unlawful employment practice (A.6937);
  • Ensure public employees have a mechanism to enforce their right to equal pay for equal and equivalent work (A.9754); and
  • Improve services and training for women to qualify for higher paying jobs and careers (A.9755).

Currently, women in Niagara County make $113 less than their male counterparts per week, while the wage disparity in Erie County is $125.

"For too many women, pay inequity, discrimination, harassment and other barriers still negatively affect their daily lives," Ceretto said. "Women deserve better. I'll keep fighting to ensure that my daughters, granddaughter and all women have the protections and the rights they deserve."

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