Montanans Deserve Equal Pay for Equal Work – Gov. Steve Bullock

Every single hard-working family in Montana has a stake in ensuring women and men are paid a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work. Putting more money in the pockets of Montana families creates better jobs, greater economic opportunity, and a stronger overall economy.

These past five years, Montana’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force has taken steps to narrow the wage gap, and businesses across the state have taken the "Equal Pay MT" pledge https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MTWageGapPledge?sm=vlOw9o/CjiDTA%2bM6yBzrh5T4SCzL4lweLSgtBRIHjlI%3d to revise their own workplace policies with pay equity in mind.

Today, on National Equal Pay Day, I unveiled my new Executive Order http://governor.mt.gov/Portals/16/EO-10-2018_Continuing%20EPEW.pdf?ver=2018-04-10-105107-220 promoting equal pay and praising Montana businesses that have implemented workplace policies and wage transparency.

When the task force started its work in 2013, women were earning 66.7 percent of the median earnings of their male co-workers. Today, that gap has narrowed to 68.3 percent. Each of the 263,000 women workers who benefited from this change has earned more than they would have if the gap had not closed. In total, closing the gap by this percentage translates to roughly $128 million additional wages in Montana’s economy and families.

This is progress, but it’s too slow. There’s no doubt we would accelerate the pace of progress through further legislation. Last year, the legislative majority killed a bill http://mtpr.org/post/montana-bill-takes-aim-gender-pay-gap that would have created increased wage transparency in Montana. Standing in the way of equal pay is standing on the wrong side of history. This next Legislative Session, my administration will again propose legislation to make sure wages are transparent and rising for BOTH women and men.

I would encourage you to reach out to the local legislators in your area with your support for equal pay legislation. You can find their local contact information on the legislative district map HERE http://leg.mt.gov/css/About-the-Legislature/Legislative-Districts/default.asp . For more information about my Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force, visit http://www.equalpay.mt.gov.

We all must redouble our efforts to close the gender pay gap faster. Now is the time to put our foot on the gas pedal and accelerate the pace of progress.

Sincerely,

STEVE BULLOCK
Governor