Unsecure Employment: House Committee Votes to Keep Workers in the Dark about Pay Disparities

There are many things that the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") does to protect Americans: DHS' mission includes everything from preventing terrorism and enhancing security to managing our borders and ensuring disaster resilience. However, DHS does NOT currently protect the Americans employed by its contractors and subcontractors from retaliation for discussing wages with coworkers. 

Yesterday, Representative Rosa DeLauro introduced an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act that would bar contractors and subcontractors doing business with DHS from retaliating against employees who discuss their wages. Seems reasonable, right? Punitive pay secrecy policies allow employers to maintain discriminatory practices and the threat of retaliation makes employees feel powerless. Who would object to non-discrimination and anti-retaliation provisions, you may ask? 

Twenty-six members of the House Committee on Appropriations. 

Rather than supporting the rights of employees to seek out pay disparities and combat wage discrimination, the committee passed a substitute amendment that substituted all of the substance of the DeLauro amendment with hot air. 

Policies and practices that keep employees, particularly women and people of color, in the dark about pay disparities diminish their ability to enforce their rights, and the fear of retaliation creates a "chilling effect" on any discussions about wages, allowing discriminatory pay practices to flourish. 

The Department of Homeland Security is charged with securing our nation from the many threats we face, and much of the work they do is accomplished through government contracts. The salaries for the members of Congress are publicly available, which gives members the security of knowing that they are being paid fairly. They and their staff are able to have conversations about salary. Don't we owe the same protection to all of the men and women who provide services to secure the country? 

Take Action: Call your member and ask how they plan to support equal pay! (202) 224-3121.