Lilly Ledbetter was a supervisor at the Gadsden, Alabama Goodyear plant for nearly two decades. She was a good employee and worked hard even though she was hazed by her male co-workers. Goodyear did not evaluate her performance fairly and paid her less than the male supervisors. When Lilly discovered the discrimination she filed suit and was awarded full back pay by a jury. The conservative majority on the Supreme Court overturned the verdict in a 5-4 ruling that requires persons denied equal pay for equal work to file within 180 days of the initial pay setting decision. The justices justified the limitation on the grounds that employers need to be protected from old claims based on obsolete practices so they have some certainty in their payroll decisions. But the rule goes against established case law and is unfair to employees who rarely have inside information on their employer's payroll decisions. Progressive Democrats attempted to overrule the Supreme Court's bad decision with the Fair Pay Restoration Act. The bill would allow employees to file suit within 180 of the most recent discriminatory pay check. But once again the radical minority in the Senate--including John McCain--and their collaborators successfully filibustered against fair pay for workers. Had enough? Sign Senator Ted Kennedy's petition to show your support for equal pay.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Another Defeat by the Know Nothings in Congress
Lilly Ledbetter was a supervisor at the Gadsden, Alabama Goodyear plant for nearly two decades. She was a good employee and worked hard even though she was hazed by her male co-workers. Goodyear did not evaluate her performance fairly and paid her less than the male supervisors. When Lilly discovered the discrimination she filed suit and was awarded full back pay by a jury. The conservative majority on the Supreme Court overturned the verdict in a 5-4 ruling that requires persons denied equal pay for equal work to file within 180 days of the initial pay setting decision. The justices justified the limitation on the grounds that employers need to be protected from old claims based on obsolete practices so they have some certainty in their payroll decisions. But the rule goes against established case law and is unfair to employees who rarely have inside information on their employer's payroll decisions. Progressive Democrats attempted to overrule the Supreme Court's bad decision with the Fair Pay Restoration Act. The bill would allow employees to file suit within 180 of the most recent discriminatory pay check. But once again the radical minority in the Senate--including John McCain--and their collaborators successfully filibustered against fair pay for workers. Had enough? Sign Senator Ted Kennedy's petition to show your support for equal pay.