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May 16, 2013

(Washington, D.C.) The following is a statement from National Women’s Law Center Co-President Marcia D. Greenberger following the Senate HELP Committee’s 12-10 vote today approving the nomination of Tom Perez to be Secretary of Labor:

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I worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for close to two decades. I was paid less than my male co-workers the entire time—even though I was doing the same work they were and doing it well. Near the end of my time there, I received an anonymous note alerting me to the discrimination, and I decided to fight for justice, with the help of the National Women's Law Center and its allies.

As a law student at American University, Grace Pazdan learned that students were being denied prescription contraceptive coverage under the University’s mandatory student health plan, when virtually all other prescription drugs were covered. Grace and her fellow students contacted the NWLC and began organizing a grass roots campaign to raise awareness of this discrimination.

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In the federal government, the wage gap is much smaller than in the private sector. A GAO report has estimated that the gap in wage is about 11 percent. I expect in the coming months that there will be a lot more attention on the wage gap among federal workers. Why? Because the President has a new memorandum ordering the Office of Personnel Management to submit "a Government-wide strategy to address any gender pay gap in the Federal workforce."

Yesterday, Vermont passed a law that deals with a huge barrier to fighting workplace discrimination, punitive pay secrecy policies. Over 61 percent of private-sector workers prohibit or discourage discussions on wages amongst coworkers. Yet, comparing wages is one of the easiest ways to know if you are getting less than your due. When employees don't know how they compare to others, they may not even realize they are being paid less. 

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Great WaPo story on how home visiting programs (which @BarackObama proposes to expand) can help young kids: http://t.co/djZtKNg0l5
13 hours 9 min ago
Join us & special guest @arneduncan for a #PreKForAll tweetchat on @BarackObama's early learning initiative on 6/5 from 2-3pm ET!
13 hours 59 min ago
This year 13 states have introduced laws requiring counseling & mandatory waiting periods for abortion: http://t.co/wDQP0mUjSj
14 hours 56 min ago