Blogging for America

Lilly Ledbetter brought a case of gendered pay discrimination to the Supreme Court [Ledbetter v Good Year 550 US XXXX (2007)http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/06pdf/05-1074.pdf ]. She claimed that she had been systematically discriminate against by being paid less than her male colleagues--they had been forbidden to talk about salaries among employees. She won in lower courts, it was appealed to the Supreme Court, where the men (5-4 decision)on the bench found that she did not act within 180 days of when she was 1st discriminated against--even though she did not know about it, because of the secrecy surrounding pay. (see http://www.acsblog.org/economic-regulation-employment-supreme-court-preview-employment-discrimination-and-timeliness-of-lawsuits.html )
This year, Congress tried to correct this bias for corporations. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act passed the House, and yesterday got stuck in the Senate. (see http://www.aclu.org/womensrights/35006prs20080423.html ) . (Not to mention that Bush has thrreatened to veto this act.)
As Justice Ginsburg said from the bench last year: This sets back women & civil rights!!!!

Yesterday was Fair Pay Day, and talking about this with LX, she reported:

The Facts: LX has been working at the mall store since November 2006. She has been named "Employee of the Month." She works 4 days a week (Friday- Monday). She is juggling school --honor roll--and a 10 month old baby boy--happy and smart (but then I am his GramJAM :)).
She makes $7.33/hour and was told she can get a raise when she turns 18 (in 3 months).

Meanwhile, a 16 y.o. young man was hired 2 months ago, he works 2 days a week and makes $7.50 an hour.

Both of them think this is unfair, and talked to an ass't manager--who said "you are not supposed to know each other's salaries..."

Discrimination is discrimination.