What if Lilly Ledbetter had never learned she was being paid less than men with the same job at Goodyear Tire?
Lilly only discovered that she had suffered from career-long pay discrimination because an anonymous co-worker tipped her off. Lilly's co-worker took a huge risk and had to remain anonymous for fear of losing his or her job.
Shockingly, half of all workers in this country are not covered by any law preventing employers from firing them for talking about salary information.
If we are to help women ensure they are being paid fairly, we have to change this. An executive order from President Obama could require anti-retaliation policies at the thousands of businesses that work with our government and help ensure that people like Lilly and her anonymous co-worker know they can safely ask questions.
April 9 is Equal Pay Day. Celebrate by signing this petition! Ask the president to tell federal contractors that they can't retaliate against employees who talk about salary information!
Dear President Obama,
I am writing in support of all women who remain underpaid out of fear of retaliation.
Half of all workers in this country are not covered by any law preventing employers from firing anyone who talks or asks about salary information.
This is a terrifying fact. Hopefully one day the Paycheck Fairness Act will be law and all workers will be protected from retaliation if they share or ask about salary information. Until that time, you can immediately protect employees of federal contractors by signing an executive order requiring anti-retaliation policies.
[Your comments here]
April 9 is Equal Pay Day, the day women's earnings finally catch up to what men made in the previous year - and it's a perfect time to take action to protect workers.
I thank you for making equal pay a priority in your administration, inaugural address, and State of the Union address, and I urge you to act now to protect employees of federal contractors.
It's time to tell federal contractors, If you're going to do business with the government, you can't fire or retaliate against employees who ask about or share salary information and wage practices!
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
