Lip Service From Albany

It's time for us to take action because Albany apparently won't.

It's the same thing every year -- the pay equity bill passes the House but never gets out of the Labor Committee in the Senate. For six years our elected representatives have been giving us nothing but lip service.

Bruno won't comment. Robach, Committee Chair, talks out of both sides of his mouth.

Steinem adds voice to pay-gap bill -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY

A National Academy of Sciences report on pay inequity found that up to half of wage disparity between men and women was not explained by differences in factors such as education or experience.

"This is outrageous," said Craig Johnson, D-Port Washington, the bill's Senate sponsor. "It is tragic that we claim to be in a progressive state, yet we have not remedied this tremendous wrong."

The bill has passed the Assembly every year since 2002, but died in the Senate Labor Committee. This year, it passed the Assembly again and is in the committee.

Sen. Joseph Robach, R-Rochester, who heads the Labor Committee, also spoke at the event, expressing his commitment to providing good, equitable wages to all residents.

Robach's office did not respond when asked whether the bill will move out of committee this year.

Scott Reif, a spokesman for Senate Majority Joseph L. Bruno, wouldn't comment on why the bill hasn't reached the Senate floor for a vote previously. He said the bill would be reviewed "but right now we're focused on passing the state budget."

Johnson said he isn't interested in waiting any longer. "Time's up, put the bill onto the Senate floor," he said. "If not, let a new majority do it."

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CALL Senator Joseph Robach, Chair,Senate Labor Committee
518.455.2909 (preferable) and ask for his Chief of Staff

or write him at 902 LOB, Albany, NY 12247

or e-mail robach@senate.state.ny.us.

Tell him you want the NYS Fair Pay Bill (S3936) out of committee and on the floor of the Senate for debate. When will that happen?

Photo by Anyaka

For more information on the bill read this summary on the NYS AAUW blog.