Legislation aimed at closing the gap between wages of men and women in Michigan should be supported by the state Legislature.
Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-Salem Township, and Rep. Gilda Jacobs, D-Huntington Woods, introduced bills Tuesday that would require pay in Michigan to be equal regardless of race or gender and would establish a committee to develop guidelines on equal pay. The introduction of the bills commemorated National Pay Equality Day.
Michigan ranks 47th among all states in pay equality between men and women. Michigan women earn 33 cents less on the dollar than men, compared to a national average of 27 cents per dollar less.
Michigan legislators should support this bill. Women have progressed greatly during the years and overcome many forms of inequality, but still receive less pay than their male counterparts. In the 21st century, women should not have to worry about wage discrimination.
This issue should have been addressed long ago. There is no reason women should have had to endure this inequality for so long. This issue is not secret; it has been debated for years - it is about time something was done to fix the problem.
Michigan’s rank in wage equality is embarrassingly low. It is the state’s responsibility to its female residents to do something about this inequality and its responsibility to all residents to improve the state’s reputation.
Opponents of this legislation argue that wage discrimination is already against the law. Those who have evidence of wage discrimination can file complaints with the state Civil Rights Commission.
While there are efforts to combat wage discrimination, there are obviously still problems. The current outlets are not satisfactorily combating the problem and more action is needed. There is no harm in extra legislation to bolster existing laws.
Increasing wages for women could bring 50 percent of families that are below the poverty line above it, Wheeler Smith said. Equal wages would also benefit single mothers. By passing this legislation, the state could not only combat inequality, but help wipe out poverty in Michigan.
Equal pay legislation could also save time and money in the court system. Individual suits by women alleging discrimination could be prevented by making it illegal. The law could catch all cases of wage inequality against women without having to go through the courts.
Women have won suits filed against Pepsico Inc. and Home Depot, with the courts ruling there was inequitable pay.
This legislation may not solve pay inequality right away, but it will help eventually phase it out. There is no quick fix to this problem, but something should be done to fight it.
Wage inequality against women has gone on too long, and Michigan legislators should do their part to help combat it. This legislation could help support already existing laws and phase out inequality while helping to combat poverty.
Michigan’s record on wage inequality is already embarrassing - legislators should do something to reverse it.
