Equal Pay

It often happens to me in airports. Or sometimes on road trips to outlet malls. I’ll be standing around, overwhelmed by gastronomic aromas, weak with hunger, clutching a fistful of change, and yet, for some reason, unable to decide which fast food establishment to patronize. KFC or McDonalds? Taco Bell or Wendy’s?

Turns out, it matters even less than you think. That’s because many of those restaurants are serving up the same meat – Tyson meat. According to Bloomberg.com, Tyson Foods, Inc. is the biggest meat processor in the country, providing chicken, beef and pork to fast food chains, grocery stores, and restaurants across the U.S. Last year, its net income reached $780 million. Read more »

For more about state poverty and wage numbers, please go to our overview page on the state-by-state 2010 Census data.

Just last week, the Census Bureau released data that showed no improvement in the wage gap – nationally, women who worked full time, year round were paid 23 cents less for every dollar paid to their male counterparts. This gap in earnings totals to nearly $11,000.

The wage gap for women of color was even worse. Black and Hispanic women working full time, year round were paid only 62 cents and 54 cents, respectively, for every dollar paid to their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts – no substantial differences from 2009. Read more »

Labor Day has become a celebration of the last of summer, but its roots lie with the celebration of the American working class: It brings attention to the struggles, victories, and economic and social contributions of our workers. Read more »