Statement from Senate President Beth Edmonds on Maine Equal Pay Day

April 4, 2006

MAINE SENATE Office of the President

For immediate Release: April 4, 2006

Statement from Senate President Beth Edmonds on Maine Equal Pay Day

In 2005, in the U.S. it took a woman more than fifteen months to earn what most men are paid for the same type of work in a year. Maine’s pay equity Law for women says an employer shall not discriminate between employees within the same establishment on the basis of gender by paying wages to any employee in any occupation at a rate less than the rate paid to an employee of the opposite gender for comparable work on jobs with comparable requirements related to skill, effort, and responsibility. In 1965, Federal Equal Pay Legislation for women was enacted. The Federal Law is for equal pay only in the same work while Maine’s law is for Pay Equity in comparable work.
Maine's Equal Pay law was first enacted in 1949 and continues to be updated. Here is a link to Maine's Equal pay statute which details Maine's law: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/26/title26sec628.html According to Maine statute effective Oct. 1, 2001: "The first Tuesday in April is designated as Equal Pay Day, and the Governor shall annually issue a proclamation inviting and urging people of the state to observe this day with appropriate activity."

In a statement on Equal Pay Day 2006, Senate President Beth Edmonds said: “Women have progressed significantly in gaining pay equity with men over the past few years.” Senator Edmonds continued by encouraging all Maine women to be aware of their rights now. She added: “We must address the pay gap through negotiation at the workplace, but our greatest challenge is helping women to understand the two dimensions of the existing law and to file complaints when they see discrimination happening.” Senator Edmonds concluded: “Pay equity encourages highly productive work by both men and women. It is only fair that individuals earn equal pay for equal work.”

Contact: Roger Q. Fenn Communications Director Office of Senate President Beth Edmonds 207-287-1558 (Direct line) 207-841-5291 (Cellular) Roger.Fenn@legislature.maine.gov