National Pay Equity Day features 'unhappy hour' event

Erie County Commission on the Status of Women spotlights income disparity between genders

The Erie County Commission on the Status of Women will present an "unhappy hour" in honor of Pay Equity Day at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at Big Ditch Brewing Co.

In 2014, women earned only 78 percent of what men earned for similar work. National Equal Pay Day is a date that symbolizes how far into 2016 women must work to earn what men earned in 2015.

"The time for pay equity between genders is long past, but we are continuing the fight in Erie County, and I encourage both women and men to participate in this event and learn what they can do to promote this overdue change," Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz said. "It is a disgrace that, in 2016, women are still only earning roughly three-quarters as much as their male counterparts. Women are essential and irreplaceable parts of our workforce and we must end wage discrimination against them."

The purpose of this "unhappy hour" is to raise awareness on the issue of pay equity and to celebrate the progress accomplished in New York through collaborative advocacy efforts. The event is an informal networking opportunity for women and men who care about equity for women and want to demonstrate support for their wives, mothers and daughters.

Commission Chairwoman Beth Curtis added, "I have personally experienced gender-based wage discrimination, but I didn't realize it until years later. This is why getting the word out about pay equity is so important to me. There are women out there who don't even know this is happening to them."

This event is free and open to anyone over the age of 21. Groups that serve women and girls are encouraged to attend and bring literature from their organizations. Women will enjoy discounted drinks, representing the disparity in pay between genders. All attendees who wear red, the color of pay equity, will be entered into a special door prize drawing. Reservations can be made at http://bit.ly/1U4capO.

Big Ditch Brewing Co. is located at 55 E. Huron St., Buffalo.