We are at the end of Women’s History month. We have passed March 12, Equal Pay Day, a day that helps to keep us all aware of the gender gap in wages. As members of women’s organizations, we need to be reminded that men and women will not have been treated equally until we have achieved wage parity.

Back in the 1969-70 school year, the year I began teaching, I learned that for every dollar a man earned, a woman earned fifty-nine cents. In the fifty-plus years since, women have made progress: We now make eighty-four cents for every dollar a man makes. Isn’t that great! But why is it less than a full dollar? And if I were Black or Latina, I would make even less, sixty-nine cents and fifty cents, respectively!

Closing the gender gap in wages has been one of the goals of AAUW National for many years. Currently, the focus is on pay transparency at the federal level. In March 2023, The Salary Transparency Act (H.R. 1599) was introduced in Congress. It would require employers across the country to provide salary ranges for jobs to applicants and employees, regardless of where they live.

Perhaps even better news—the Vermont legislature is also considering a pay transparency law. The Vermont State House introduced a bill during the 2023 legislative session that would help in our state even if the federal legislation doesn’t pass soon. However, it doesn’t appear that there is any action on it at this time. It is under discussion in the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.

Just as Julie Mackaman’s thoughtful presentation at the Vermont statehouse in 2017 convinced the committee that employers should not be allowed to request a salary history when considering an applicant for a position (see New Vermont Salary History Law), you can be part of the push to pass a salary transparency law at the national and/or state level. You can again spur on those who represent us by writing to or calling our representative(s).  Also, consider writing a letter to the editor. 

• Contact the Chair of the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, Jim Carroll.
  Email: jcarroll@leg.state.vt.us
  Phone: 802) 828-2228
• Contact your local state representative.
• Contact our US Senators:
  Bernie Sanders
  Contact Form: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/
  Phone: (802) 862-0697
• Peter Welch
  Email Form available at https://www.welch.senate.gov/email-peter/
  Phone: (802) 863-2525
• Contact our state representative:
  Becca Balint
  Email Form available after entering your zip code at https://balint.house.gov/contact/
  Phone: (802) 652-2450
• Write a letter to the Bennington Banner editor: form available at https://www.benningtonbanner.com/site/forms/online_services/letter_editor/.

Any or all of these are in the effort to get legislation to facilitate pay equity passed. The United Nations has declared recently that “closing the gender gap could lift 100 million women out of poverty.”  Let’s be part of that effort!

—Suzanne