Explanation
Title
To recognize and congratulate Business and Professional Women/USA on Equal Pay Day - a national day of action to raise awareness of the wage disparity between men and women.
Body
WHEREAS, according to an analysis of data in over 300 classifications provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics in 2001, women earn less in every occupational classification for which enough data is available, including occupations dominated by women (e.g., cashiers, retail sales, registered nurses and teachers); and
WHEREAS, according to statistics released in 2005 by the U.S. Census Bureau, year-round, full-time working women in 2004 earned only 77% of the earnings of year-round, full-time working men, indicating little change or progress in pay equity; and
WHEREAS, over a working lifetime, this wage disparity costs the average American woman and her family an estimated $523,000 in lost wages, impacting Social Security benefits and pensions; and
WHEREAS, fair pay strengthens the security of families today and eases future retirement costs, while enhancing the American economy; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby congratulate Business and Professional Women/USA, whose leadership and involvement has made a significant contribution to reducing the wage disparity for women and minorities in America.