Members of the House passed a resolution honoring the legacy of labor and civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph. Randolph is known as the father of the modern civil rights movement. He was a key player in organizing the March on Washington Movement and led the campaign to organize the Pullman Company which led to the founding of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. The resolution was passed by a 395-to-23 vote.
“A. Philip Randolph was a tremendous influence on the labor and civil rights movement,” says IAM Executive Assistant Diane Babineaux. “We commend the House in honoring his many contributions and will continue our commitment to ensure equality and justice for all Americans.”
In other civil rights legislative news, the Coalition of Labor Union Women is calling on the Senate to take the next step in ending the pay gap between men and women.
Last year’s passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a law which reverses a 2007 Supreme Court decision that made it extremely difficult for workers to pursue pay discrimination claims, was a great victory. But, lawmakers must now pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Women working full-time, year-round are paid about 77 cents for every dollar paid to men. The Paycheck Fairness Act will help change this long-standing pay inequity by making it harder for employers to justify wage discrimination; prohibit retaliation against workers who question employer wage practices; allow for better government data collection so that civil rights enforcement agencies can better target their resources; and offer employers technical assistance in analyzing their pay data and making sure they’re not discriminating.
The House has passed the Paycheck Fairness Act. It’s now time for the Senate. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and tell your Senator to support the Paycheck Fairness Act today.
