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Lilly Ledbetter -- Paycheck Fairness Act -- ACLU And, when I saw how much of a difference my
pay was versus theirs, it just took my breath away.
Lilly Ledbetter devoted 19 years to Goodyear, then she discovered how little she was paid
compared to the men who did the same work.
LL: And I felt so degraded. So less of a human. You know, it just seemed like all of my respect
suddenly went out of the window. It was gone.
Lilly sued for discrimination and won.
LL: I had to do it. I had to stand up because it was not right.
But, the US Supreme Court reversed her victory. The high court said that she was not entitled
to any compensation because she waited too long to file her claim.
LL: They reversed the law. So, that's why it was so important for me to fight along
beside all of the many, many other people who were trying to get the law changed back,
and Congress did it. Congress, the House, the Senate, passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair
Pay Act; and, then the President signed it last January. That was just an amazing moment
in my life.
The fight for equal pay for equal work isn't over. The Paycheck Fairness Act takes Lilly
Ledbetter's cause even further.
LL: I want to say Paycheck Fairness pays because if Paycheck Fairness would have been a law
at the time I was working, I would have had the right to ask my employer where I stand
in relationship to my peers. I could ask a co-worker what they were making and tell them
what I was making without retaliation. And, Paycheck Fairness is so essential. I've heard
it described as being the hammer to the nail that the Ledbetter bill is and I would agree
to that.
The Paycheck Fairness Act has already passed in the House and is now poised for passage
in the Senate. For women like Lilly, it's vital that this act becomes law.
LL: I'm working for my daughter, my grand-daughter, and all of the women whose out there working
today.
Screen shows: ACLU
Learn more. Do more. http://actio.aclu.org/FairPay