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05/20/2024 06:13 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=12138
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 13, 2013 04:17 PM
From: Representative Katharine M. Watson
To: All House members
Subject: Concurrent Resolution - Equal Pay Law
 
This year, 2013, marks the 54th anniversary of the Act of December 17, 1959 (P.L. 1913, No. 694) known as the “Equal Pay Law”. (Yes, I was born and in school.) It has provided a foundation for Pennsylvania women seeking opportunities in the workplace. The goal is fair compensation for all workers without wage discrimination.

Nevertheless, we have all heard the statistics of women in the workplace, doing the same job, with the same educational background and experience, still earning less money than their male colleagues. Try this quiz and see how you measure up for your knowledge on workplace equality:

1. In 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was passed, women made _____ cents on the dollar compared to men.
A. 59 cents
B. 63 cents
C. 74 cents
D. 81 cents

2. Today that figure is ____ cents on the dollar compared to men.
A. 85 cents
B. 91 cents
C. 72 cents
D. 77 cents

3. Black women earn _____ cents on the dollar compared to white men.
A. 65 cents
B. 68 cents
C. 85 cents
D. 87 cents

4. Over a lifetime, how much less will women earn than men?
A. $550,000
B. $700,000
C. $1,200,000
D. $2,000,000

5. Women make up ____% of the American labor force today.
A. 38
B. 42
C. 47
D. 50

(answers follow at end)

I am introducing a concurrent resolution calling on the Joint State Government Commission to complete a definitive study on the issue of “workplace pay disparity,” including the examination of existing State and Federal laws relating to that issue. Also, the resolution will ask the Commission to make recommendations to the General Assembly, based on their findings. The Commission will be tasked to complete its work and issue a report to the General Assembly by November 30, 2013.

I respectfully ask for your support and co-sponsorship of this concurrent resolution. The next annual Pay Equity Day is April 9, 2013. That date symbolizes how far into year 2013 women must work to earn what their male counterparts earned doing the same job in 2012.

Thank you.
(Answers: )
  1. A
  2. D
  3. B
  4. B, C, and D are all correct, for women with high school, college, and professional postgraduate degrees respectively, according to Evelyn Murphy, economist and founder and president of the WAGE Project.
  5. D





Introduced as HR218