Governor Baker to sign pay equity bill next Monday

July 27, 2016 5:59 pm

By Bianca Buono

bbuono@abc6.com

@BBuonoABC6

Equal pay has been a hot topic of discussion on the campaign trail. Now, Massachusetts will become the first state to actually make it happen with a bill that will require equal pay for equal work.

"We consider ourselves very forward thinking,” said State Representative Patricia Haddad.

Haddad, who played a large role in getting the pay equity bill passed in the House, says the majority of women in the Bay State are paid only $0.82 for every dollar a man earns.

"Unfortunately it gets worse. For an African American woman it’s only $0.66 and for a Latina woman it’s only $0.54 on the dollar,” explained Haddad.

This first-of-its-kind bill passed unanimously in the House and Senate over the weekend and now it’s headed to Governor Charlie Baker’s desk. The bill, in part, encourages salary transparency and prohibits employers from asking prospective workers how much they’ve been paid in the past.

"Unfortunately there’s been a culture of asking women how much they make and very often they have made less. When that happens, the offer is less,” Haddad said.

It also outlines legitimate reasons for a difference in pay, which include location, experience and education.

Haddad admits many businesses had reservations.

"Businesses were concerned with the fact that it was going to be an instantaneous, you had to do it and you had to get it done. Well we’re giving businesses a full three years,” Haddad said.

Governor Baker is expected to sign the bill next Monday. It will go into effect in July of 2018.