News & Events
Press Release: Wisconsin Legislators Throw Penalty Flag Against Wisconsin Women
February 22, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Contact: Emily Winecke, 608-255-9809, info@wiwomensnetwork.org
Wisconsin Legislators Throw Penalty Flag Against Wisconsin Women
Eve Galanter, Chair of the Wisconsin Women’s Network Board of Directors, issued the following statement today regarding Tuesday’s passage of SB 202 by the Wisconsin State Assembly:
“On the same day that the legislature honored Aaron Rodgers, state legislators also chose to throw a penalty flag against Wisconsin’s women.
“The Wisconsin Women’s Network is profoundly disappointed by the State Assembly’s passage last night of SB 202, which repeals the Wisconsin Equal Pay Act. Workplace discrimination is a crime in Wisconsin, but the repeal of the Equal Pay Act greatly restricts the penalties and enforcement options available to victims should acts of workplace discrimination occur. We fear the passage of this bill may create an environment in Wisconsin where employers are allowed to discriminate against their workers with impunity.
“In today’s economy, more and more Wisconsin women have become the chief breadwinners for their families; in many cases, women provide the only source of income for their households. Yet women continue to make 78 cents to the dollar of their male counterparts. When so many Wisconsin families are struggling to make ends meet, now is not the time to make it easier for employers to illegally undervalue women’s work.
“We urge Governor Walker to stand with Wisconsin’s working women and their families and veto this bill.”
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