Alliance for Justice Applauds House of Representatives for Passage of Fair Pay Laws

Now It is Senate’s Opportunity to Stand Up for Fairness

Washington, DC--Alliance for Justice commends the House of Representatives for starting off the session by giving a major victory to working Americans by passing the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act.  Alliance for Justice also applauds Speaker Pelosi and lead sponsors Representative George Miller (D-CA) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) for their tireless commitment to workplace equality. "The 111th Congress set an auspicious tone with its first significant votes of the session," observed Nan Aron, president of Alliance for Justice.  "Passage of these bills demonstrates that this House of Representatives is committed to fairness, justice and equality."

"The Senate must pick up the banner carried by their colleagues in the House," Aron said.  "Fair-minded senators should reject attempts by the business lobby to introduce amendments or changes to the House version that will fundamentally alter, and ultimately gut, the purpose of this critical legislation.  Senators should act quickly to stand up for the interests of workers from across the country by swiftly passing the fair pay legislation," concluded Aron.

The two bills together undo the damage done to working Americans by the Roberts Court's 5-4 decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire.  Lilly Ledbetter, a hardworking woman from Gadsden, Alabama, discovered that she had systematically been paid far less than her male counterparts for years. She took Goodyear to court in order to receive the pay she'd rightfully earned during her years at the tire factory.  The Supreme Court, in a decision that rejected not only long-standing legal precedent but fundamental common sense, ultimately rejected her claim, saying that Lilly should have filed her claim within 180 days of receiving her first discriminatory paycheck, regardless of whether or not she knew the paycheck was discriminatory. 

The Ledbetter Fair Pay Act restores common sense by requiring that a person file within 180 days of the time they discovered the discrimination, rather than uphold the omniscience standard set by the conservative majority on the Supreme Court.  In addition, the Paycheck Fairness Act closes the loopholes that prevent the Equal Pay Act from achieving its full purpose of ensuring equal pay for equal work.  Together, the two bills provide much-needed legal safeguards for the rights of working women.