Nation’s Leading Latino Civil Rights Organization Calls for Action Instead of a One Day Observance

 View as web page

 

LULAC Says This Should Be The Last Latina Equal Pay Day In The USA Nation’s Leading Latino Civil Rights Organization Calls for Action Instead of a One Day Observance Washington, DC - The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), today issued the following statement about Latina Equal Pay Day. “When does 22 equal 12?” asks Sindy Benavides, LULAC National Chief Executive Officer. “When you are a Latina working in this country and you add up the number of months it takes you to earn what a white man makes for the very same job! October 29 is about the day of the year in 2020 when we finally catch up to what a male Caucasian was paid in 2019 for doing the same work. Latinas work hard for their money and their time and sacrifice shouldn’t be worth any less. Plus, they’re trying to put food on their table too for their children and family so to deny them equal pay is unconscionable. It is ridiculous that after two decades into this new century, LULAC and every other major Latino organization is still having to remind lawmakers and employers that Latinas make a little more than half on average for every dollar white men are paid for the same type of occupation. Add that up over a woman’s 40-year lifetime of work and we’re talking a loss of more than a million dollars. Even worse, this inequality is happening across all types of job categories and at every level of education so no one can truthfully say this is a fluke,” said Benavides. Elsie Valdes-Ramos, National Vice-President for Women, is the highest elected female advocate for women in LULAC and adds, “We are working with an intentional focus and purpose to empower women into seeking elected office, starting a business, pursuing a higher level of education and using all their talents and abilities to fight for pay equity based on their rightful merit rather than accepting less simply because of their gender. May 2020 be the last year we stop to remind the country of the contributions Latinas make to our nation and by 2021, we should be celebrating the first year of fulfilling for all, the true meaning of realizing the American dream.” # # # About LULAC The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.