Iowa Governor Signs Equal Pay Legislation

April 28, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Chet Culver today signed Senate File 137, a bill that mandates pay equity in Iowa’s workplaces. During the ceremony, the Governor also signed a proclamation declaring Equal Pay Day in Iowa to highlight the need for greater fairness in our state.

“Our state has a long history of identifying, and protecting the rights of individuals, not just in the workplace, but in every field,” said Governor Culver. “Wage discrimination is wrong. From this day forward, discrimination of this nature is, plain and simple, illegal. By doing so, we are living up to our progressive history, and moving Iowa forward – toward our common goal of equality under the law.”

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Iowa currently ranks 37th in Gender Pay Equity, and on average across the state, Iowa women earn on average 62.5% of what men in their same industry earn. Senate File 137 is designed to create a level playing field for all Iowans, and guarantee equal pay for equal work.

The Governor was joined at the ceremony in his formal office by Lt. Governor Patty Judge, DOT Director Nancy Richardson, and Libby Nelson of Kemin Industries, who all spoke of this bill’s impact on the lives of Iowa’s women.

“Time and again I saw female friends paid less than a man doing the same work. Not because they were any less hard-working, not because they were any less dedicated, but simply because they were women,” said Lt. Governor Judge. “With the enactment of Senate File 137, we have made another important stride forward, and will now guarantee that women receive the pay they deserve and have earned.”

Governor Culver also signed today a proclamation proclaiming Women’s Equal Pay Day in Iowa to highlight importance of eliminating wage discrimination. The text of the proclamation appears below:

Whereas, Inequity in pay for women occurs across nearly every career area; and

Whereas, Pay disparities affect women of all ages, races and education levels – regardless of their family decisions; and

Whereas, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women earn 78 cents, on average, to a dollar earned by men in the same position across all occupations; and

Whereas, Women must work one year plus almost four more months to equal the salary men earn in one year in the same employed positions; and

Whereas, a Lifetime of lower wages means women have less income that they can save for retirement and less income that counts for social security or a pension; and

Whereas, Fairness in wages, opportunities in job advancement, and the enforcement of employment antidiscrimination statutes are the cornerstones of pay equity; and

Whereas, Iowa must value the work traditionally performed by women, encourage girls and women to pursue higher-paying non-traditional careers and encourage employers to give women equal access to high-growth, high-wage jobs; and

Whereas, The time is now for our daughters, nieces and granddaughters to receive the same pay as men for their equal work and comparable worth:

Now, therefore, I, Chester J. Culver, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim April 28, 2009, as

Women’s Equal Pay Day In Iowa.

SIGNED, CHESTER J CULVER, GOVERNOR OF IOWA

Source: Iowa Governor