Help us draw attention to pay disparities for Latinas on Latina Equal Pay Day, which takes place on Thursday, Oct. 3.
While Latinas play a critical role in America’s workforce, their wages continue to lag significantly behind those of their white male counterparts. Latinas working full-time, year-round are paid 57 cents and all earners (including part-time and seasonal) are paid 52 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men.
Latinas in the U.S. are paid 45 percent less than white men and 30 percent less than white women. They have the dubious distinction as the group that works longer than every other racial and ethnic group—23 months—to earn what white men earn in 12 months. Seventy percent of Hispanic women say they have experienced discrimination because of their gender and 86 percent because of their ethnicity. It’s a double impact that results in extremely high hurdles for Latinas, which is also referred to as “the gap within the gap.”
The UFCW is a member of the board of directors of the National Committee on Pay Equity, which is calling on supporters to advocate for fair pay on Equal Pay Days. Here are some ways you can support and advocate for equal pay:
- Share information about Latina Equal Pay Day on social media, in your workplace, or within your community. Educate others about the gender pay gap and its impact on Latinas.
- Support legislation that promotes pay equity, such as the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would make it harder for employers to get away with pay discrimination and reward good actors that prioritize equitable pay practices.
- Support legislation that promotes fair scheduling, such as the Part-Time Worker Bill of Rights Act and Schedules That Work Act, which would require employers to give two weeks notice of work schedules and eliminate the unfair disparity between part-time and full-time employees’ wages, benefits, and promotion opportunities.
- Support better protections for farmworkers, domestic workers, and tipped workers, including restaurant workers and gig workers.
- Mentor and sponsor Latinas in the workplace to help them advance their careers and negotiate fair compensation.
The UFCW is an official partner of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA). A social media toolkit for Latina Equal Pay Day is available from the LCLAA here. Additional information about Latina Equal Pay Day is available here.