BPW International/EPW-NYC Members Join Women From Around the World Attending Equal Pay Day Panel at the United Nations

Governor Cuomo signs #NYSWomen’s Equality Bills

On October 21, 2015 NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a selection of the women’s equality bills that were passed during the 2015 legislative season. As noted in the press release from the Governor’s office the new laws will:

• Achieve Pay Equity
• Protect victims of sexual harassment
• Remove Barriers to Remedying Discrimination
• End Family Status Discrimination
• Protect Victims of Domestic Violence from Housing Discrimination
• Protect Victims of Domestic Violence by Strengthening Order-of-Protection Laws
• Strengthen Human Trafficking Laws
• Protect Women from Pregnancy Discrimination

A number of advocates and leaders including PowHerNY partners, Enterprising and Professional Women -NYC, A Better Balance, the National Organization for Women,  and others have worked for years to get the above legislation passed. The accomplishments we can have when we all work together for the good of the women of NY and their families.

Success in New York State

Women in New York State Cheer as the

New York State Legislature Passes Groundbreaking Laws

For Equal Pay

 

 

 

In April, 2015 the NYS legislature passed a variety of bills that support women’s rights, including A6075/S1, the New York Equal Pay Bill.

 

EPW-NYC’s hard work with the NYS Equal Pay Coalition and PowHer has made us part of this history making moment.

 

This success is due to many years of advocacy work by organizations such as ours and legislators who had the courage to stand up and be counted.

 

We thank the following sponsors of these

groundbreaking laws: (Summaries of bills below)

 

Equal Pay

Assemblywoman Titus for sponsoring A6075 and

Senator Savino for sponsoring S1.

 

Sexual Harassment

S.2 (Valesky)/A.5360(Galef)

 

Attorney’s Fees

S.3 (Little)/A.7189 (Dinowitz)

 

Family Status Discrimination

S.4 (Little)/A.7173 (Russell)

 

 

These hard sought after rights began with Governor Cuomo’s proposed 10 Point Women’s Equality Agenda back in 2013. We thank him for his early action on advancing the rights of women.

 

Below is a summary of some of the highlights of the bills (provided by PowHer) affecting women’s lives. 

 

Bills Ready for Governor Cumo’s Signature

 

Equal Pay

A.6075 (Titus)/ S.1 (Savino)

• Strengthen our equal pay laws to make it tougher for employers to get away with paying women less

 

• Outlaw wage secrecy policies and prevent employer retaliation

 

• Increase damages available to a prevailing litigant to 300% of unpaid wages

 

Sexual Harassment

S.2 (Valesky)/A.5360(Galef)

Extend sexual harassment protections to employees of all private businesses, no matter how large or small.

 

 

Attorney’s Fees

S.3 (Little)/A.7189 (Dinowitz)

Allow litigants who win a sex discrimination suit to collect attorney’s fees.

 

Family Status Discrimination

S.4 (Little)/A.7173 (Russell)

Outlaws discrimination against parents in the workplace.

 

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April 14, 2015 Equal Pay Day in the United States

National Equal Pay Day is the symbolic day in 2015 in the U.S. when women’s earnings catch up to men’s earnings in 2014, due to a pay gap of 23%. 

Until the Equal Pay Bills were passed, women in New York earned 86 percent of what white men earn, and that disparity was even more severe for African-American and Latina women, who earned 66 percent and 54 percent of that earned by men in New York State. This wage gap profoundly affects New York families.

If closed, the average working woman and her family would have enough money for more than a year’s worth of food; 8 additional months of rent; 3 extra years of family health insurance premiums; or more than 2,000 gallons of gas.

Because women head more than 1,000,000 households in New York, and more than 63% of working mothers in New York are primary breadwinners or co-breadwinner, addressing the wage gap is imperative.

It’s good for American women and families and it’s good for business. Women are the purchases of goods and services whether single or heads/partners of families.