Mayoral Proclamation - Equal Pay Day - 04.12.2016

WHEREAS, Women, especially minority women, continue to earn less on average than men earn; and

WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average earnings of women working full time, year round equaled 78 percent of what men earned on average, indicating little change or progress in pay equity; and

WHEREAS, According to Graduating to a Pay Gap, a 2012 research report by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the gender pay gap is 93 percent one year after college graduation, even after controlling for factors known to affect earnings, such as occupation, hours worked and college major; and

WHEREAS, According to Behind the Pay Gap, a 2007 research report by AAUW, a 12 percent unexplained difference in earnings exists among full-time workers 10 years after college graduation; and

WHEREAS, Nearly four in ten mothers are primary breadwinners in their households, and nearly two-thirds are primary or significant earners, making pay equity critical to families’ economic security; and

WHEREAS, A lifetime of lower pay means women have less income to save for retirement and less income counted in a Social Security or pension benefit formula; and

WHEREAS, Fair pay equity policies can be implemented simply and without undue costs or hardship in both the public and private sectors; and

WHEREAS, Fair pay strengthens the security of families today and eases future retirement costs while enhancing the American economy; and

WHEREAS, Tuesday, April 12th, symbolizes the time in 2016 when the wages paid to American women catch up to the wages paid to men from the previous year.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That I, Timothy J. Mahoney, Mayor of the City of Fargo, do hereby proclaim April 12, 2016 as Equal Pay Day in the City of Fargo, North Dakota and urge citizens to recognize the full value of women’s skills and significant contributions to the labor force and further encourage businesses to conduct an internal pay evaluation to ensure women are being paid fairly.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Fargo, North Dakota to be affixed this 6th day of April, 2016.