Opportunity to move Fair Pay NOW

Hi Mojo Mom readers: I am having a very busy day, and this important message came in from MomsRising, so I am going to repost it here--

From MomsRising.org,

How cool would it be for Fair Pay to be one of the first things that that President-Elect Obama signs into law? It could actually happen!

We just heard that the House is set to vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act this week, and the Senate could vote as early as next week! Turns out that while the economic security package is tied up in negotiations, there is a rare window of unscheduled open time to pass long-needed bills. Congress is thinking action…and thanks to the incredible advocacy of MomsRising members and our aligned partners over the past year, Congress is thinking fair pay!

Tell Congress to not to miss this open window to pass Fair Pay!

After you send your letter, forward this email to your friends so they can contact Congress too! Especially during these tough economic times, women need equal pay for equal work to ensure self-sufficiency and dignity.

Background about this issue: The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act are important steps to making sure that women are paid what they are worth. These pieces of legislation would make it easier for women to recover lost wages from bosses who discriminate and by requiring the federal government to be more proactive in preventing and battling wage discrimination.

The Paycheck Fairness Act would improve protections for workers under the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by allowing individuals to better fight pay discrimination, strengthening penalties for violation, compelling employers to explain wage gaps, and developing training for women and girls about salary negotiation.

Though they had strong support in the House, both of these bills were held up in the Senate. But the tide is turning and Fair Pay is a priority in this economic crisis. Together, we can pass these bills that will provide women the tools they need to gain equal pay for equal work.

Congress is meeting this week to vote on this bill, and the Senate could take it up as early as next week. And it's not a moment too soon--believe it or not, a recent study found that pay discrimination costs the average women $434,000 over a forty year period of time.1 Now, more than ever, women and families need the economic security brought by Fair Pay for equal work.

Tell Congress to pass Fair Pay today!

Thank you for all you've done to fight for Fair Pay -- we're in the home stretch now.

--Katie, Kristin, Joan, and the MomsRising.org Team

P.S. If you haven't seen the video of Batgirl fighting for fair pay yet, be sure to check it out. [Note from Amy: Yes, we have been fighting this battle since the 1960's!]

P.P.S. Innovative win-win solutions to work and family issues are more accessible than most of us realize. This weekend The New York Times highlighted one such innovative opportunity: babies at work!

For more information: Lifetime Losses: The Career Wage Gap