Press Room

Senate Recognizes Equal Pay Day in Colorado

Tuesday, April 12 2011

DENVER – Today, the state Capitol was filled with red as men and women donned the color in support of “Equal Pay Day.” The Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 38, which recognizes April 12th as Equal Pay Day in Colorado and urges businesses, government and nonprofit agencies to implement fair and equal pay policies and close the pay gap for women in Colorado.

Senator Evie Hudak (D-Westminster) and Senator Angela Giron (D-Pueblo), both co-sponsors of the resolution, spoke before the Senate about the progress women have made in the workplace, but also expressed the need to continue working to achieve equal pay for equal work.

Colorado and the United States have made significant progress over the last few decades expanding the rights of women in the workplace and closing the pay gap between men and women. However, women today are often still paid less for the same work as their male colleagues. Pay equity disparities are especially high for women of color, with Colorado’s African-American and Latina women earning between 50-60% that of the state’s highest earners.

With the enactment of the Lily Ledbetter law last year, which expanded the rights to legal action for women who have been victims of wage discrimination, barriers continue to be broken down for women across the country. In Colorado, legislators continue the struggle to assure equality and fairness under the law in every workplace.

Senator Hudak offered the following comment on the passage of the Equal Pay Day Resolution:

"Today is a significant day for women in Colorado. I am proud that my colleagues joined me today in acknowledging the progress that has been made thus far and the work yet to be done in breaking down barriers and ending all forms of discrimination. All people, regardless of sex or race, deserve equal pay for equal work."

Senator Giron also offered the following comment regarding the passage of the Equal Pay Day Resolution:

"Throughout history, exceptional women have stood up for equal rights and paved the way for future generations to achieve their dreams. Colorado has been a leader in the nation’s fight to overcome gender discrimination and the Senate’s recognition of Equal Pay Day acknowledges the work that remains but signifies the continuation of that legacy today."

Below is the text of the Equal Pay Day resolution:

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 11-038

CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF APRIL 12, 2011, AS "EQUAL PAY DAY" IN COLORADO, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, ACKNOWLEDGING THE PERSISTING PROBLEM OF WAGE DISPARITY AMONG VARIOUS GROUPS.

WHEREAS, Nearly forty-eight years after the passage of the "Equal Pay Act of 1963" and Title VII of the "Civil Rights Act", women and people of color continue to suffer the consequences of inequitable pay differentials; and

WHEREAS, According to statistics released in 2010 by the U.S. Census Bureau, year-round, full-time Colorado working women in 2009 earned only 79% of the earnings of year-round, full-time working men, indicating little change or progress in pay equity; and

WHEREAS, According to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2005 to 2009, women of color experience even greater pay disparities, with year-round, full-time Colorado working African-American women and Latinas earning 62% and 52%, respectively, of the earnings of the highest earners; and
 
WHEREAS, Men of color also experience disparities when their pay is compared to that of the highest earners; and

WHEREAS, As women get older, the pay gap widens significantly; and
 
WHEREAS, Over a working lifetime, wage disparities cost the average Colorado woman and her family an estimated $429,000 in lost wages, also impacting Social Security benefits and pensions; and

WHEREAS, Fair pay equity policies can be implemented simply and without undue costs or hardship in both the public and private sectors; and

WHEREAS, There exists a strong business and public interest case for pay equity; and

WHEREAS, Fair pay strengthens the security of families today and eases future retirement costs, while enhancing the American economy; and average Colorado woman and her family an estimated $429,000 in lost wages, also impacting Social Security benefits and pensions; and

WHEREAS, Fair pay equity policies can be implemented simply and without undue costs or hardship in both the public and private sectors; and

WHEREAS, There exists a strong business and public interest case for pay equity; and

WHEREAS, Fair pay strengthens the security of families today and eases future retirement costs, while enhancing the American economy; and

WHEREAS, Tuesday, April 12, 2011, symbolizes the time in the new year in which the wages paid to American women catch up to the wages paid to men from the previous year; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-eighth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:

That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly:
 
(1)  Proclaim Tuesday, April 12, 2011, to be "Equal Pay Day" in the state of Colorado; and

(2)  Urge governmental agencies, nonprofit and labor organizations, businesses, and individuals to take steps to implement fair pay equity policies to help close the pay gap for Colorado's women and people of color.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to 9to5, National Association of Working Women; ACLU of Colorado; American Association of University Women - Colorado; Cherry Creek Business Women's Network; Colorado Business Women; Denver Tech Center Colorado Business Women; Colorado Coalition for Girls; Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights; Colorado Progressive Coalition; Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce; Denver Women's Commission; FRESC: Good Jobs, Strong Communities; Latina Initiative; League of Women Voters of Colorado; Mi Familia Vota Colorado; NAACP of Colorado Springs; NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado; National Coalition of Jewish Women - Colorado; New Era Colorado; One Colorado; Project WISE; Rights for All People; The Alliance of Professional Women; White House Project - Colorado; Women's Foundation of Colorado; Women's Collaborative for Colorado; Women's College of The University of Denver; Women's Lobby of Colorado; and Zonta International District 12.