A few weeks ago, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey that accused the Port Authority of pay discrimination against its female employees. The Port Authority, a two-state agency that runs several of the largest transportation hubs in the Northeast, is accused of paying women attorneys less than male attorneys, even though they perform work that “requires the same skill, effort, and responsibility.” Such pay practices violate the Equal Pay Act, which prohibits pay discrimination on the basis of sex.
The women lawyers complained to the EEOC that they were paid less than male lawyers who did comparable work, which cost them thousands of dollars in lost wages over the years. The EEOC tried to work with the Port Authority to end the alleged discrimination, but the Port Authority refused to change its practices.
This particular situation demonstrates why legislation like the Paycheck Fairness Act is so desperately needed. A key part of the bill would create stronger incentives for employers to follow the law in the first place and strengthen deterrents. Clearly, the law’s current penalties have not been forceful enough to compel compliance. Although the legislation suffered a procedural defeat in the Senate a few weeks ago, a majority of the Senate voted to fight wage discrimination and ensure fair pay. The bill’s rejection came despite widespread support from the White House and ordinary Americans committed to basic fairness and equity.
As Louis Graziano, the EEOC attorney who will be litigating the case, said, “Achieving a workforce that embodies equal pay for equal work and eliminates sex-based pay discrimination has been the objective of federal law for nearly 50 years. This lawsuit makes it clear that the unfortunate realities — that at some workplaces women still earn less than men even though they are performing the same work and have the same qualifications — continue to plague the workplace and will not be tolerated.” AAUW agrees and will continue our work in Congress and the courts to fight wage discrimination.
Stay informed about pay equity issues like this one and let your senator know how you felt about her or his vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act. You can find legal resources and information about the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund, which provides support for lawsuits that combat sex discrimination in higher education and the workplace, on the LAF website.
