Tuesday marked the day people across the country recognized efforts to close the pay gap between men and women.
Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith, D-Salem Township, and Rep. Gilda Jacobs, D-Huntington Woods, commemorated National Pay Equity Day at the Capitol by introducing legislation that would close the gap between wages of men and women.
Jennifer Schaedig, a member of MSU Women’s Council, said she applauds any effort of the Legislature to recognize inequity and address it.
“Women’s labor is taken for granted,” the women’s studies sophomore said. “There needs to be steps women can take to make sure if they are discriminated against based on pay, that there will be repercussions.”
Schaedig said that in certain fields that have been traditionally dominated by women, like nursing and education, a man is considered a specialist and will receive more pay.
Wheeler Smith said the measure is needed to close the pay gap.
“It would require pay in the state of Michigan to be equal without regard to race or gender,” she said.
The measure also would set up a pay equity committee to consider guidelines for comparable wages.
“The wages make a big difference on how dual income and single income families exist in the state of Michigan,” Wheeler Smith said. “If wages were equal it would bring 50 percent of Michigan’s families below the poverty line, over the line.”
Women in Michigan earn 33 cents less on every dollar that men earn. The national average is 27 cents less per dollar. Michigan’s pay inequity ranks 47th among all states, Wheeler Smith said.
Women have won suits against major companies like Pepsico and Home Depot, courts rule there was inequitable pay, Wheeler Smith said.
“Instead of being in courts, if the state made a statement we will get a better response from companies and businesses,” she said.
Sen. Joanne Emmons, R-Big Rapids, spoke out against similar legislation last year. She said wage discrimination is already against the law.
Tom Chadwick, a legislative aide for Emmons, said the issue has failed to reach the Senate floor in past years.
“If there is evidence of some discrimination a complaint should be filed with the state Civil Rights Commission,” Chadwick said.
