Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-Cicero) announced that he passed a legislative package to help ensure women earn equal pay for equal work in New York, including a resolution recognizing April 10 as Equal Pay Day – the day that represents how far into the year women must work to earn the amount their male colleagues made the previous year (K.995).

“We’ve come a long way in addressing inequalities in the workplace, but the fight is far from over,” said Stirpe. “Fair and equal pay is the most basic step to level the playing field and open the door for future generations of women to finally get what they’ve earned.”

Assemblyman Stirpe, who has been an advocate for closing the gender pay gap and supporting equality in and out of the workplace, noted that equal pay for equal work is not only the right thing to do, but will also help families achieve economic security and boost local economies. The legislative package includes the New York State Fair Pay Act, which would enforce pay equity, broaden equal pay protections to include equivalent jobs and ensure that traditional female and minority jobs are not undervalued (A.4696). Stirpe also helped pass a measure prohibiting employers from requesting or requiring a prospective employee to disclose salary or wage history as a condition of employment or promotion (A.2040-C). Stirpe also co-sponsored legislation to establish a state policy of wage equality for state and municipal employees (A.658).

Further, the package includes a measure directing the Civil Service Commission to study and publish a report evaluating wage disparities among public employees (A.2549). Another bill would give public employees a private right of action to sue for compensation and enforce equal pay disparities (A.2425).