Officials looking to narrow wage gap

State commission will explore issue

Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

The state labor director is convening a commission to examine the wage gap between men and women.

Don Mares, head of the Department of Labor and Employment, is expected to bring together groups and individuals to discuss ways of closing the gap. The commission will begin meeting this summer.

Nationally, women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn, and minority women earn even less, according to recent figures.

The average in Colorado varies, but one study shows it is only a penny off the national average, said Linda Meric of 9to5, the National Association of Working Women.

Mares' announcement was made Tuesday, the same day lawmakers supported a resolution recognizing Equal Pay Day.

Many women lawmakers wore red Tuesday as a sign that "women are still in the red."

"It's vital that the Colorado General Assembly continues to bring attention to the inequities faced by women and people of color in this state," said Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada, who sponsored the resolution in the House. "Although the glass ceiling continues to be a reality for women in this country, we must continue to fight every day for equality."

Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, the father of two teenage daughters, pointed out that some professions have closed the wage gap, noting that women sales engineers earn an average of 5 percent more than their male counterparts.

"We will achieve success as a nation when we have as many well-paid CEOs who use the women's restroom as there are men using the men's restroom," Brophy said.

Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, said women need to learn to ask employers about the pay scale for their jobs.

During a news conference at the Capitol, several organizations talked about pay disparities. Mark Schwane, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said women with union jobs earn 31 percent more than their nonunion counterparts.

Unequal pay

77 cents is what women earn for every dollar men earn. For black women, that rate drops to 72 cents. For Hispanic women, the rate is 59 cents for every dollar.

• EARNINGS BY FIELD

Women earn the following percentage of what men in their fields earn:

Engineer   82%

Computer programmer   81%

Professor   77%

Accountant   75%

Lawyers   70%Source: U.S. Census Bureau Source: U.S. Department Of Labor

bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327