HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-24-15 Smiley Bozeman should pass equal pay resolutionFrom:sandrasmiley@earthlink.net
To:Agenda
Subject:Bozeman should pass equal pay resolution
Date:Sunday, May 24, 2015 1:57:11 PM
Dear City Commission: It is time to pass an equal pay resolution for the
City of Bozeman. My first job was at age 12 - that was the first job to
have money taken out for my future social security funding. That money
earned interest along with all of the other salaries earned by me. Think
what a difference it would make for pay to be equal and not less for
women - phenomenal difference now at age 66. Sandra Smiley, Former
Bozeman City Commissioner
"Where's the love? You are the love you have been waiting for - be
love, be loving." Anonymous
"Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don't
have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your
subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace.
A soul generated by love." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"There's always something new to love." Sharon O'Hara
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can
see." Mark Twain
"When the power of love is greater than the love of power then the
world will know peace."Jimi Hendrix
"A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of
consensus." Martin Luther King, Jr.
"When you get mired in the monotony of your everyday existence,
remember; a smile can bring the sun, a loving word can move
mountains and an act of kindness can change someone’s world." ~
Creator
"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting
the old, but on building the new." Socrates
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/opinions/letters_to_editor/bozeman-
should-pass-equal-pay-resolution/article_f586a112-cb61-5fae-afdd-
41e512e4d4d0.html
Bozeman should pass equal pay
resolution
By Virjeana Brown
13 hrs ago
Comments
On June 1, the City of Bozeman will be voting on the Equal Pay for Equal
Work Resolution. I really hope this is passed by the City Commissioners.
This is an important resolution that will work to advance pay equality.
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law. In
1963, women were paid an average of 59 cents for every dollar a man
made. Here it is almost 52 years later, and women still make less than
men. The Montana average is between 67-71 cents, depending on the
research you review. It is actually worse for women of color, making 64
cents (African American) and 54 cents (Asian) per hour. I’m not sure
where Native American women fall on this spectrum, but I’m sure the
picture is not any better for them.
There are many households being run by single women, therefore the
wage gap also affects the children of these women. I know, I was one of
those single women raising children. Often times throughout the years, I
have heard many complain about women getting assistance. I always
thought, if they were paid a good wage, then they would not need to rely
on assistance to raise their kids.
This wage gap has huge consequences during a woman’s working career
as well as her retirement security. After spending 30 to 40 years working,
a woman should not be thrust into poverty in their retirement years
because of this disparity. These women are your mothers, daughters,
sisters and should be treated equally and fair.
The City of Bozeman has an opportunity to help reverse this trend by
signing the Equal Pay for Equal Work Resolution.