FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/8/2014
Councilmember Jean Godden
Councilmember Godden’s statement on “Equal Pay Day”, Obama’s efforts to bridge gender wage gap
SEATTLE – Councilmember Jean Godden offered the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s Equal Pay Executive Orders to prohibit federal contractors from retaliating against workers who discuss pay, and also to direct the Labor Department to issue new rules requiring federal contractors to provide compensation data:
“Today, April 8, is ‘Equal Pay Day’ in the United States, yet women continue to make 77 cents for every dollar men earn. I commend our President for signing two executive orders today which increase wage transparency and protect employees’ rights to discuss their salaries. Allowing employees to examine their workplace and identify discrepancies in pay are important ways for women to advocate for raises and to be paid the same as men.
“In Seattle, Mayor Murray has joined with the Council to get the city’s house in order, examine the gender pay gap in city departments and take steps to correct disparities. For the first time, the Council has a Gender Equity committee of which I am the proud Chair. We have a lot of work ahead of us, both nationally and locally, but here in Seattle I’m ready to take up specific legislation designed to close the gap.”