Equal Pay for Women to Become Law of NYS—FINALLY!

Working together, we made Albany put fairness over politics and pass Equal Pay for Women legislation that’s a giant leap forward in ensuring opportunity in the workplace.

Repeated studies have shown that, despite a 50-year-old federal law aimed at prohibiting paycheck discrimination, women continue to earn just 78 cents for every dollar paid to men doing the exact same job. That’s not—and for more than two years, I’ve been working to put teeth in New York’s law to stop that practice.

Now, the Assembly, which has been holding up the bill over politics, has finally passed it, sending the measure to the Governor who has promised to sign it. You can read the details of this landmark legislation, by clicking here.

Passage of Equal Pay is a great victory for women, but there’s more work to be done.  The Assembly Majority continues to hold hostage several other important bills designed to ensure greater equality for women and improve the quality of life for countless families. These reforms are designed to:

• Combat sexual harassment in the workplace;
• End discrimination based on gender including discrimination in employment, and obtaining housing and credit;
• Require reasonable work accommodations for pregnant women; and
• Afford stronger protections for domestic violence victims

As the 2015 Legislative Session continues, I’ll be working equally as hard to make sure these measures become law. 

These measures will help to bring new opportunities to millions of women across New York State.  And, as the 2015 Legislative Session continues, I’ll be working equally as hard to make sure they are enacted into law.