Rep. Barber, House Colleagues Vote Unanimously to Pass Equal Pay Bill

State Representative Christine Barber of Somerville and Medford proudly joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives to unanimously pass legislation that updates the Commonwealth’s statute requiring equal pay for comparable work for the first time since 1945. A much needed update, this legislation helps to address some of the more entrenched policies that keep the wage gap stagnant, even as women’s educational and skill levels in recent decades match those of men.

“Women make up half the workforce, and the majority of breadwinners in single-parent families,” said State Rep. Barber. “Right now, as we face rising economic inequality, policies like equal pay help families and children get the opportunities they need to succeed. I am so proud to vote for this long overdue legislation.”

S.2119, An Act relative to pay equity, which targets a number of the known challenges in identifying and eradicating unequal compensation in workplaces, has a threefold approach. First, because employers often have difficulty in defining “comparable work,” in a way that goes beyond job title and description, the new law will help define this concept, and will make sure that jobs that are similar in content, skill, and responsibility have equal pay. Second, S.2119 protects employees and affirms their ability to discuss wages by prohibiting employers from forbidding or threatening disciplinary actions for any such discussions. Finally, the bill prevents employers from asking about pay history until after an offer of employment and the associated compensation has been made, specifically tackling the systemic difficulty women face of getting beyond a certain salary once they are underpaid.

This bill has seen support from a broad base of organizations, including the Alliance for Business Leadership, Jobs with Justice, Mass AFL-CIO, and AIM. Additionally, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce announced their support, demonstrating that businesses are also seeking productive ways to close the pay gap. With clearer guidelines for employers to work toward equal pay, this legislation will go a long way in addressing current challenges.

The legislation will now go before a conference committee of House and Senate members, who must negotiate a final version before the session ends on July 31st.

– Submitted by Rep. Barber’s office