Romney MIA on Pay Equity

by Tiffany Ricci and Kate Childs Graham  |  May 31, 2012

Women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men on average, for doing the same job. And the reality of pay inequity for women of color is even bleaker. African-American women make about 72 cents for every dollar earned by a white man. Latina women, only 62 cents.

The numbers don’t lie. Pay inequity remains a serious issue in this country. And yet, Republican Presidential-hopeful Mitt Romney can’t seem to get serious about it. He can’t seem to even talk about it.

When asked if he supports the Paycheck Fairness Act, Romney ducks the question. He won’t even talk to his friends over at the Washington Times about it.

Meanwhile, next week, Pres. Barack Obama and supporters in the Senate will take up the legislation in an attempt to rectify this striking imbalance in this country.

Since the 1980s, AFSCME has been a leading force in the fight for pay equity. Unlike Romney, AFSCME has never been silent on the issue. And yesterday was no different. AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee called out Romney, saying, “President Obama has a proven track record of fighting for equal pay for women, while Mitt Romney is just missing in action.”

Let us never be MIA when it comes to something as important as equal pay for equal work.