We congratulate Lilly Ledbetter for the success of her long and hard work for women’s equality, and thank you for urging your representatives to pass this legislation! Today President Obama signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, taking a big step towards women’s equality in the workplace and fair pay for women.
Lilly Ledbetter was an employee of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. for nearly two decades when she found out that she was being significantly underpaid compared to her male counterparts. Ledbetter went to court against Goodyear and was awarded $223,776 in back pay, and over $3 million in punitive damages.
The award was, however, reduced to $300,000 because of a 1991 law that limited a company's liability for damages. The Supreme Court then ruled against Ledbetter because the discrimination claim had not been filed within 180 days of the first instance of discrimination and denied her any previously awarded reparations.
The House bill, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831), and the Senate Bill, the Fair Pay Restoration Act (S. 1843), sought to correct this unjust Supreme Court interpretation by clarifying that discrimination occurs each time an employee receives a paycheck that represents unequal compensation. The act thereby removes the unreasonable 180 day time frame, and provides women with a better chance to obtain equality in the work place.
Without the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, it would have been harder for women to demand the right to fair pay and non-discrimination.
Congratulations Lilly Ledbetter, and thank you for your work for women's equality!
While this win is encouraging, let us not forget that equality is not achieved overnight. Read more about how women’s funds, like the Global Fund for Women and Ms. Foundation, are proposing change.
- Ms. Foundation Blog - Obama Recovery Package Can't Leave Women and Families Waiting in the Wings [1]
- Newsweek Article featuring Global Fund for Women - "The End of Swagger [2]"
