60th Anniversary of the Equal Pay Act (EPA) – A Milestone in the Fight for Wage Equality

June 10th marked the 60th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act (EPA), a milestone in the fight for wage equality. Despite progress in closing the wage gap, women, particularly Black and Latina women, continue to face significant disparities.

Without substantial changes in the private sector and public policies, it is projected that the wage gap will persist until 2062 for women overall, 2144 for Black women, and 2210 for Latina women. This means that generations of women will continue to experience unequal pay and limited personal wealth.

As an organization that is working to secure a federal paid leave policy this anniversary reminds us that the work we do is urgent: working for economic justice for all. It’s shameful that women still aren’t being paid their worth, but it isn’t unexpected. This nation has a history of devaluing the labor of women, especially Black women.

Voters need to impress upon legislators and employers the critical need to close the wage gap. Now is the time.