Washington - The American Association of University Women celebrates the enactment today of the first increase in the federal minimum wage in nearly 10 years. The increase from $5.15 to $5.85 is the first in a series of three steps that will lead to a federal minimum wage of $7.25 in 2009. Of the nearly 12 million workers who will receive a pay increase as the result the legislation, approximately 60 percent are women.
"The minimum wage is a working woman’s issue and raising it is an important step toward increasing the economic security of working women and their families," said AAUW Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Lisa M. Maatz.
AAUW strongly supports legislative efforts such as the minimum wage increase, the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338/S. 766), as well as the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2831) and its Senate companion the Fair Pay Restoration Act (S. 1843), which would work to close the persistent wage gap between men and women.
"Now that Congress has finally provided a long overdue minimum wage increase, AAUW encourages them to take similarly sensible action on these pay equity bills that will help to close the persistent wage gap between men and women — this action is also long overdue."
For more information about how you can help women to achieve pay equity, please read AAUW's Pay Equity position paper, take advantage of AAUW's Pay Equity Resource Kit, and make your voice heard in Congress.
For more information or to schedule an interview with AAUW Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Lisa Maatz, please contact Ashley Carr, AAUW Director of Communications at 202/785-7745, carra@aauw.org.
