Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney & AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on Equal Pay Day

This past Tuesday, March 12, was Equal Pay Day—the day in 2024 a woman needs to work until to catch up to what a man made in 2023. In a statement AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said it is “unacceptable” that for the past 20 years the gender wage gap has remained unchanged as large corporations and anti-labor politicians have resisted efforts to close the pay gap. However, she said a “new wave of hope and organizing is building in the fight for equality” to ensure equal pay for equal work.

“The labor movement plays an integral role in fixing the gender wage gap. Women in unions earn 22 percent more than nonunion women; for women of color, the wage gap is essentially closed when they have a union contract,” said Shuler in a statement. “And it’s better in a union for more than just salary. A union contract also means more protection against harassment, discrimination and other abuses women routinely face on the job, as well as health and safety policies, paid leave, and retirement protections.”

While women who work full time, year-round earn 84 cents for every dollar earned by a man, when part-time or seasonal jobs are included, this number drops to 78 cents. Although women comprise just under half of the workforce in the United States, they make up two-thirds of the workforce in the 40 lowest-paying jobs, including jobs in the care, service and hospitality industries. Women also experience higher rates of poverty than men.

Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney said it’s also important to remember that the pay gap for women varies by demographic, so for African women Equal Pay Day is on July 9, for Latina women it’s October 3 and for Native American women it’s November 30.

“The best way to close the pay gap and fight wage discrimination is with a union contract, so as we recognize this important day, we also affirm our resolve to ensure all women regardless of race or national origin have the right to join a union free from coercion and intimidation,” she said.