Background
Last year the House passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act (H.R. 2381/S. 1843). Sen. Kennedy introduced S. 1843 on July 20, 2007. It currently has 45 cosponsors. The Senate may bring this bill to a vote in the next couple of weeks.
Lilly Ledbetter is a woman who was denied her fair pay claim because the Supreme Court held that the discrimination began too long before she filed a complaint. Ms. Ledbetter did not file a claim sooner because she was unaware of the discrimination. As soon as she discovered the discrimination, she filed a law suit. This bill would allow individuals to sue for long term unfair pay because it considers each time a person is paid as a new violation of rights.
The bill amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to declare that an unlawful employment practice occurs when an unequal pay decision is adopted, when an individual becomes subject to the decision or practice, or when an individual is affected by application of the decision or practice, including each time compensation is paid. The bill accrues liability and allows an aggrieved person to obtain relief including recovery of back pay for up to two years preceding the filing of the charge, where the unlawful employment practice that has occurred during the charge filing period is similar or related to a practice that occurred outside the charge filing period.
Action Needed
A vote could occur any day now. Please call your Senators and urge them to vote yes on S. 1843, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. Let your Senators know that you are a constituent and a social worker requesting their support for better laws protecting women and minorities who are discriminated on the job for pay. Click on Take Action and the CapWiz system will provide you with the phone numbers of your Senators and a script to use when making the calls.
