“His Pay, Her Pay, Our Pay”BBPW Program, Holiday Inn, 11:30am-1pm on March 11th, 2015

Today we will discuss: • The history of the BPW Foundation and its

work to end gender wage inequity• Current equal pay efforts in Montana,

including a formal introduction of the BPW Equal Pay for Equal Work Campaign for the City of Bozeman

• State Legislature that is relevant to working women and that impacts Montana’s economy

Business and Professional Women

National Foundation bpwfoundation.org

• Founded July 16, 1919as the U.S. Government recognized the need for a cohesive group to coordinate identification of women's available skills and experience while mobilizing for World War I.

• Formally organized in February 1956 by the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs

Women’s Research• Paved the Way for Women’s Research

First exempt Foundation and research center devoted exclusively to the interests and advancement of working women

• The BPW Foundation Library established in 1959 as a center for research into the economic, educational, social and psychological interests and problems of business and professional women

• Marguerite Rawalt Online Resource CenterBPW Foundation is continuing its role as a source for up-to-date information on issues impacting workingwomen, their employers and their families

http://blog.bpwfoundation.org/rawalt-online-resource-center/

Legislation• Political Activism

BPW has always acted to empower women by endorsing legislation that promotes women’s rights

–One of the first women's organizations to endorse the Equal Rights Amendment in 1937

– Endorsed the Equal Pay Act (introduced as the “Women’s Pay Act” in 1945), which aimed to abolish wage disparity based on sex (the gender wage gap) and was passed 18 years later by President John F. Kennedy in 1963

–Endorsed the Paycheck Fairness Act of 1977

–Lobbied Congress for passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which passed in 1993

Work & Mission of National Foundation

• The work of the BPW Foundation supports workforce development programs and policies that recognize the diverse needs of working women, communities and businesses.

• The mission of the BPW Foundation is to empower working women to achieve their full potential and to partner with employers to build successful workplaces through education, research, knowledge and policy.

Bozeman BPW bozemanbpw.org

• Established on Sept. 18th, 1930

• First Meeting Held at the Baxter Hotel

Mission of Bozeman BPW

• Bozeman BPW’s mission is to support business and professional women in our community through advocacy, education and information.

Bozeman BPW Campaign for Equal Pay for Equal Work

• A gap in wages between two people who perform the same job

• Wage gaps have been explained in part by a variety of causes, such as discrimination in hiring, differences in education, discrimination in salary negotiations, differences in amount of work experience, and breaks in employment

• These “explanatory variables” can explain some, but not all, of the gap

What is a Wage Gap?

http://blog.dol.gov/2012/06/07/myth-busting-the-pay-gap/

http://www.consad.com/content/reports/Gender%20Wage%20Gap%20Final%20Report.pdf

• The “gender wage gap” is the additional money a woman would have to make for every dollar made by a man in order to have equal annual earnings.

• The facts are that WOMEN earn LESS than men with the same qualifications in every industry…in almost every occupation…and at every level of education both Nationally and in the State of Montana.

The Gender Wage Gap

www.equalpay.mt.gov

• To make an initial comparison, researchers often compare overall median wages of men and women.

Nationally,Women earn 70.6% of men.

In Montana,Women earn 67.5% of men.

http://equalpay.mt.gov/documents/TheWageGapEconomicCausesandPrevalence.pdf

http://rad.dli.mt.gov/presentations/WageGapFinal.pdf

• Montana’s women are slightly more educated than its men. (Women have a higher percentage of a bachelor's or higher degree – 29.3% women vs. 28.5% men.)

• Yet, Montana women earn less than men in every occupational category, including those with predominately women workers.

Statistical Sources: “The Wage Gap: Economic Causes and Prevalance” Barbara Wagner, Chief Economist, MT Dept of Labor and Industry, www.equalpay.mt.gov

• Currently, Montana women workers earn 67.5% of men's annual median earnings ($20,575 for women; $30,472 for men).

• Consequently, Montana ranks near the bottom in gender pay equality compared to all 50 states plus D.C.

Statistical Sources: “The Wage Gap: Economic Causes and Prevalance” Barbara Wagner, Chief Economist, MT Dept of Labor and Industry, www.equalpay.mt.gov

• Looking at the ratio of female and male median earnings for full-time, year-round workers, Montana ranks 46th in the nation in gender pay equality

National Women’s Law Center (NWLC)2013 American Community Survey Data http://www.census.gov/acs/www/

http://equalpay.mt.gov/documents/TheWageGapEconomicCausesandPrevalence.pdf

http://equalpay.mt.gov/documents/TheWageGapEconomicCausesandPrevalence.pdf

• Gap exists across– Most occupations (there are a few where pay is equal)– All industries– Private, public, and nonprofit– All education groups– All states

• Gap has improved over time, but the largest portion of the gap is unexplained, and it has not been reduced over time

• Working to close the wage gap will strengthen and grow Montana’s economy, and will ensure that Montana’s women receive an equal chance at fair wages

Take Away Points

• Established by MT Governor Steve Bullock on Sept. 27th, 2013, • under the pretense that “ALL of Montana’s workers deserve a

fair day’s wage for a fair days work,” • that closing the gap will improve the lives of Montana

families, • and “when Montana working families prosper, our state

prospers.”

Statewide Action to close the Gap

www.equalpay.mt.gov

Missoula’s Equal Pay Act Proclamation

Mission Statement:• Aligning with the BPW Foundation aspiration of “empowering working

women to achieve their full potential and partnering with employers to build successful workplaces through education, research, knowledge, and policy,”

• The mission of the Bozeman BPW Legislative Committee campaign for Equal Pay for Equal Work is to strengthen Bozeman’s working families and open better opportunities for women in the workforce by securing the partnership of the Bozeman City Commission in addressing gender wage gaps. Our tactical objective is to pass a City Commission resolution that orders a City self-audit for gender wage gaps; establishes a city level Equal Work Citizen Advisory Board to act on the self-audit; and commits the Commission to encourage citizens, businesses, and organizations in our community to adopt measures that work to close the gender wage gap.

Bozeman BPW “Equal Pay for Equal Work” Campaign

• BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Bozeman urges citizens to recognize the full value of women’s skills and significant contributions to the labor force and take further action to help close the gender wage gap; and

Bozeman BPW “Equal Pay for Equal Work” Resolution

for the City of Bozeman

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Bozeman will work to eliminate unequal pay for equal work not only to benefit women financially, but also to increase economic security for their families and contribute substantially to our community and state economy; and

• BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bozeman City Commission directs the City Manager to conduct a Pay Equity Self-Audit of City departments, similar to that recently conducted by the executive branch of the State of Montana, to assess whether gender-based compensation disparities (wage gaps) exist within occupations or across equivalent occupations and to assess gender disparities in opportunities for promotions and acquiring management positions;

• BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Bozeman City Commission commits to establish a city level Equal Pay for Equal Work Citizen Advisory Board to review the findings of the City Pay Equity Self-Audit and work with the City Manager to develop solutions to any gender wage gaps and opportunity inequities discovered; and the City Commission commits to encourage citizens, businesses and organizations in our community to adopt measures to identify and close the gender wage gap among their workforces.

• Endorse the EPEW campaign and resolution

• Attend the Bozeman Equal Pay for Equal Work Stakeholder Strategy Session– March 30th, 5pm-7pm at the Bozeman Public Library small

conference room

• Attend the City Commission Meeting for the Introduction of the EPEW Resolution– April 13th, 6pm at City Commission’s Chambers, 121 N. Rouse. An

Equal Pay Day event!

• Attend the State Equal Pay Summit– April 10th-11th at Montana Tech,1300 West Park St.

Butte, MT 59701

• What Works for Women at Work: How to Spot Subtle Bias and How to Eliminate It– April 23, 7pm in Strand Union Building ballrooms C & D,

Montana State University

What can you do to help?

2015 Montana LegislatureBills that affect Montana Women and their Families

MT SJ 14

• ‘Resolution to Support May as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Awareness Month and Urge Research’

• Joint resolution of both the House and Senate• Aims to declare May ALS Awareness Month

and also to urge the National Government to fund further ALS research.

SJ 14 Sponsored By:

Sponsored by Senator Fred Thomas, (R) SD 44

Email: sfredthomas@yahoo.comSession Contact InformationInformation Office: (406) 444-4800

Montana SenatePO Box 200500Helena, MT 59620-0500

Primary phone: (406) 370-4001Secondary phone: (406) 777-4000

AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS(ALS)

• Fatal neurodegenerative disease which causes weakness of the skeletal muscles

• Currently no known cause or cure• It is estimated that as many as 30,000

Americans may have the disease at any time• Information from the Packard Center for ALS

Research and Johns Hopkins

STATUS of SJ 14

• Introduced on February 18th

• Passed by Committee of Public Health, Welfare and Safety in two readings

• Current Status: Engrossed on February 26th, 50% progression

• Pending in House Human Services Committee• Next Hearing: March 25th, 2015

HB 306

Revise Unemployment Insurance Benefi t for V icti ms of Domesti c V io lence

SPONSOR: REP. JENNY ECK HD 79

Jenny Eck hd 79

jennyeck4mt@gmail.comSession Contact InformationInformation Office: (406) 444-4800Montana House of RepresentativesPO Box 200400Helena, MT 59620-0400

AddressPO BOX 1206HELENA, MT 59624-1206

Primary Ph: 459-1082

Who?

Nearly 25% 7.6%

96% of employed domestic violence victims experience some type of work-related problem due to the violence. Survivors report that domestic violence affects their work in many ways. Late, Miss full days at work, Resignation.1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime. •The average duration of stalking is 1.8 years.•If stalking involves intimate partners, the average duration of stalking increases to 2.2 years.

http://nelp.3cdn.net/8ffcd6de3f649a187f_b2m6bn78c.pdfhttp://www.americanbar.org/groups/domestic_violence/resources/statistics.html

Currently

If a victim leaves employment for their own protection or the protection of their children, they are eligible to receive up to 10 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits.

MCA 39-51-2111

REVISION

HB 306 removes the 10-week limitation on unemployment insurance benefits for workers unemployed due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

28 vs. 10

There is a big difference between 7 months and 2 ½ months.

Bill history

FEBRUARY 21, 20152ND READING76 YEAS 23 NAYS

0-E; 1-A

FEBRUARY 23, 20153RD READING67 YEAS 31 NAYS

2-E; 0-A

8 who originally voted Yea for the 2nd reading changed their vote to Nay for the 3rd reading.

Mike Cuffe, Clayton Fiscus, Kelly Flynn, Bill Harris, Stephanie Hess,Mike Miller, Lee Randall, Kirk Wagoner.

Daniel Salomon was absent for 2nd, voted Yea for 3rd.Dave Hagstom and Tom Woods voted Yea for 2nd were both Excused for 3rd.

BILL STATUS - ALIVE

SENT TO THE SENATE(Senate Business & Labor Committee)

AMENDEDFROM 28 WEEKS TO 14 WEEKS

Create A Healthy Montana Act to

expand healthcare coverage to certain Montanans

Montana House Bill 249:Healthy Montana Act

What is the text of HB 249?

“AN ACT TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE COVERAGE TO ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES;

ESTABLISHING A HEALTH CARE COVERAGE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE

CERTAIN LOW-INCOME MONTANANS WITH ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES USING MEDICAID FUNDS AND AN ARRANGEMENT WITH A THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATOR;

IMPLEMENTING CERTAIN MEDICAID REFORMS;

AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR HEALTH CARE DELIVERY ACROSS MONTANA”

www.leg.mt.gov

Who Sponsors HB 249?Sponsored by Representative Pat Noonan, HD 74AND by Montana Governor Steve Bullock

Email: pnoonan73@yahoo.comSession Contact InformationInformation Office: (406) 444-4800

Montana House of RepresentativesPO Box 200400Helena, MT 59620-0400

MailPO Box 90Ramsay, MT 59748-0090

Background• Medicaid expansion as proposed by Bullock is part of the

2010 Affordable Care Act, which directs states to expand Medicaid -- with federal funding -- to allow everyone earning less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level (less than $16,200 annual income for a single individual household) to be eligible for coverage. https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/01/22/2015-01120/annual-update-of-the-hhs-poverty-guidelines

• However, a 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision made Medicaid expansion optional for each state. The federal government is paying for the entire expansion through 2016 for those who choose to expand.

• Montana has not expanded Medicaid.http://helenair.com/news/local/legislative-gop-promotes-its-health-care-alternatives-to-medicaid-expansion/article_cd968c98-e02c-5c63-bfc7-9d8715252a38.html

Why HB 249 was drafted• Currently, there is a coverage gap in which 70,000 hard working

Montanans are not eligible for healthcare through Medicaid.

• Those who fall in the coverage gap earn too little to be eligible to buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (Medicaid), and earn too much to be eligible for Welfare subsidies.http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/report-on-living-wage-prompts-advocates-to-call-for-medicaid/article_2b0906c3-c32e-57e1-aac5-685682770f71.html#ixzz3TxMLICMD

• Montanans are paying taxes each year which are pooled into Federal Medicaid funds and then redistributed to states that have voted to expand Medicaid, but Montana has failed to expand Medicaid and has therefore opted NOT to bring our investment back in-state to insure our fellow Montanans.

HB 249 Status•Hearing was held on Friday, March 6th, 2015 and lasted over 7 hours

•Over 250 supporters attended the hearing and testified in favor; 12 people testified in opposition

•HB 249 bill to expand Medicaid is supported by: The MT Association of Counties, the MT Chamber of Commerce, MT Association of Churches, MT National Guard Association, MT Hospital Association, MT Medical Association, MT Catholic Conference, MT Primary Care Association, MT Public Health Association, MEA-MFT, NAMI-MT, AARP MT, MT Human Rights Network, MT Women Vote, and others.

•10 Representatives (R) voted “do not pass”:Seth Berglee (R) HD 58, Alan Doane (R) HD 36, Bill Harris (R) HD 29, Stephanie Hess (R) HD 28, Forrest Mandeville (R) HD 57, Albert Olszewski (R) HD 11, Alan Redfield (R) HD 59, Vince Ricci (R) HD 55, Kirk Wagner (R) HD 75, Art Wittich (R) HD 68

•HB 249 did not pass for full discussion on the floor of the House. A new bill is already being drafted and should be introduced within the month of March, and the issue is likely to be revived for discussion in some form (source: MT Women Vote).

www.leg.mt.gov

How to Follow State Legislature

• Visit www.leg.mt.gov– Search for bills and representatives, listen to committee

audio/video hearings

• Visit www.legiscan.com– Quick and easy bill search, sign up to receive emails tracking

specific bills of interest

• Attend BBPW Legislative Committee Meetings!– Discuss what’s happening in state and local Legislature, and be

active in advocating for policy that benefits women and families. Next Meeting: March 20th, 9am, Townshend’s Teahouse

MESSAGE YOUR

MONTANA

LEGISLATOR!

Contact your legislator

• Please contact the committee members assigned to the Bill that you are interested in!

Use the easy contact form on Leg.MT.GovOr call the Legislative Switchboard.

5 MINUTES MAKES A DIFFERENCE!• leg.mt.gov• Right Hand Menu• Session > 2015 Session • > scroll down to and click ‘Online Message Form’

Fill out form and click SEND MESSAGE

Call the Legislative Switchboard!

406-444-4800 Hi, my name is _______. My address is

_______. I’d like to leave a message for both my Representative and my Senator asking them to support (House Bill ____ /Senate Bill _____). Thanks!

www.bozemanbpw.org