Establishes policy of equal pay for both sexes and comparability of value of work and directs the taking of corrective action

1 Co-sponsor

• Antoine M. Thompson

Title of bill

An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to implementing a state policy of setting salaries on the basis of comparability of value of the work

General idea of bill

To implement the state policy of compensating employees in state service equally for work of comparable value by eliminating wage inequality in job titles which have been segregated by sex, race, or national origin.

Summary of specific provisions

Amends §115 to define intent of New York state to comply with the federal "Equal Pay Act of 1963" and "Civil Rights Act of 1964" and to state its intent to ensure a fair and non-biased wage structure for all employees regardless of sex, race or national origin. Amends S 118 of the civil service law to define how comparable value of job titles shall be determined. Adds a new S 119 to the civil service law which (a) defines segregated titles, (b) mandates that the President of the Civil Service Commission report annually to the Legislature and Executive on those segregated titles for which wage disparity exists, and (c) mandates the Governor to request appropriation necessary to ensure that wage disparities are corrected.

Justification

While newspapers carry banner headlines about the advances women have made in the work force, the fact is, women's wages continue to lag far behind men's. The economic position of women on the whole has deteriorated, despite affirmative action and equal pay laws, and the movement of some women into a few traditionally male-dominated occupations.

The wage gap exists, in part, because many women are still segregated into a few low-paying occupations. More than half of all women workers hold sales, clerical and service jobs. Studies show that the more an occupation is dominated by women, the less it pays. Part of the wage gap results from differences in education, experience or time in the workforce. But a significant portion cannot be explained by any of those factors; the General Accounting Office's Oct. 2003 report Women's Earnings, which examined 18 years of data, found a 20 percent earnings gap between women and men that could not be explained, even when accounting for demographic and work-related factors such as occupation, industry, race, marital status and job tenure.

More than half of all women work in occupations which are over 70% female, and 25% are in jobs which are more than 95% female. The National Academy of Sciences, which has conducted the most authoritative study to date on comparable worth, found that "the more an occupation is dominated by women, the less it pays." The Academy concluded that sex discrimination is deeply imbedded in our society's wage structures and in our so-called free market system.

Prior legislative history

2007-2008: A.7407 - Passed Assembly 2005-2006: A.305 - Passed Assembly 2003-2004: A.737 - Passed Assembly 2002: A.236 - Passed Assembly 2001: A.236 - Passed Assembly 2000: A.4171 - Passed Assembly 1999: A.4171 - Passed Assembly 1998: A.810 (Katz) - Passed Assembly 1997: A.810 (Katz) - Gov. Emp.

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

Determined by amount of wage disparity

EFFECTIVE DATE :: Immediately.