Observing Wednesday, March 15, 2023, as Equal Pay Day in Wisconsin.
Impact
The resolution serves as a reminder of the ongoing issues regarding gender wage disparities and seeks to promote awareness of the work still needed to achieve full pay equity in the workforce. By recognizing Equal Pay Day, the resolution encourages both public and private sectors to focus on strategies and policies that would help reduce this gap further. It emphasizes that equal pay is not just a women's issue, but a critical economic issue for families and communities in Wisconsin, as women's earnings significantly contribute to household incomes.
Summary
SJR22 is a Senate Joint Resolution introduced in Wisconsin, recognizing March 15, 2023, as Equal Pay Day. This date symbolizes how far into the new year women must work full-time to earn the same wages that their male counterparts earned the previous year. The resolution highlights the importance of gender pay equity and acknowledges the progress that Wisconsin has made in narrowing the pay gap over the years, where the pay equity gap was reduced from women earning 29 cents less per dollar than men in 2004 to 17 cents less in 2021.
Contention
While there may not be significant contentious points in the resolution itself, the broader topic of pay equity can evoke differing opinions among lawmakers. Supporters of the resolution may argue that it is essential to keep the dialogue around gender equity alive and to push for legislative measures that further act on these disparities. Conversely, some may view the focus on gender pay issues as secondary in light of other pressing economic concerns. Nonetheless, the resolution largely reflects bipartisan recognition of the importance of women's contributions to the workforce.