NASW to continue advocacy for equal pay for women
Washington, DC - In a milestone victory for women, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) applauds the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (S. 181), reversing the Supreme Court decision that limited women and other workers’ ability to sue for wage discrimination. The success of this bill indicates that Congress is ready to move towards the ideal of fairness in pay for women across America.
“An unwavering goal of social work is to help build a society in which there is equal opportunity and access to resources, regardless of race, gender, religion or any other factor used to discriminate against people,” said Dr. Elizabeth Clark, executive director of NASW. “The signing of this bill is vital to the welfare of working women throughout the nation, and we are thrilled to have had a hand in its success.”
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act specifically addresses the time limit during which workers can bring a discrimination lawsuit against an employer under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Previously, workers were required to bring a lawsuit within six months of when the discrimination began. Under the new bill, workers may sue up to six months after they receive any paycheck from the discriminating employer.
NASW has been steadfast in its support of both the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as well as the Paycheck Fairness Act, which was originally included in the bill passed by the House of Representatives, but removed in the Senate. Despite the defeat of the Paycheck Fairness Act, NASW strongly contends that both bills are imperative remedies to redress not only pay disparity, but also other types of discriminatory actions that impact the lives of working women.
The White House has invited Dr. Clark to attend the signing of S. 181 into law today on behalf of NASW and social workers nationwide. NASW celebrates this monumental step forward for working women and will continue to advocate for the alleviation of the persistent wage gap between women and men.
For more information on NASW’s legislative agenda, click here
To read S. 181 in its entirety, click here
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The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 132,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.