Seems there will be a new "Collaborative Governance Council" at the Minnesota State Legislature. According to Minnesota's Revisor of Statutes, the participants (not all known to be friendly to pay equity) are:
(1) League of Minnesota Cities;
(2) Minnesota Association of Townships;
(3) Association of Minnesota Counties;
(4) Minnesota School Board Association;
(5) American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 5;
(6) Education Minnesota;
(7) Service Employees International Union; and
(8) the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

.....and their purpose is:

(a) The council shall develop
recommendations to the governor and the legislature designed to increase collaboration
in government. These recommendations may include, but are not limited to, strategies,
policies, or other actions focused on the following:
(1) the review of statutes, laws, and rules that slow or prevent collaboration efforts;
(2) the use of collaboration to improve the delivery of governmental services;
(3) the use of technology to connect entities and share information, including
broadband access;
(4) the modernization of financial transactions and their oversight by facilitating
credit and debit card transactions, electronic funds, transfers, and electronic data
interchange; and
(5) the creation of model forms for joint power agreements.

The Pay Equity Coalition of Minnesota will monitor this group in order to protect pay equity statutes in Minnesota.

Pay Equity in New Mexico Moves Forward

There is a great deal of information for New Mexico state contractors on the state of New Mexico's website at:

http://www.generalservices.state.nm.us/spd/pay_e.html


"Effective July 1, 2010, businesses seeking new contracts with any Executive Branch state agency will be required to comply with the requirements of Executive Order 2009-049, to aid in identifying and combating pay inequity and job segregation in the State of New Mexico, as a condition of being awarded a contract. Background and compliance information, as well as the necessary reporting forms, may be obtained from this web page. "

Winding Down the 2010 Minnesota Legislative Session

I realize it's not over yet -- but I want to thank the Policy Corps fellows of Grasstops for monitoring the committees for us this year. No major threats to Minnesota's pay equity laws I'm happy to report.

Thanks also to our coalition members for keeping your eyes and ears open at the capitol. The women of Minnesota who have received pay raises as a result of unfair pay practices and those who will in the future -- thank you.

Resources for More $ in your Pocket!

If you were not able to join us at Minnesota Business Women's (Un)happy hour on April 30th -- here's what you missed...

On average women in Minnesota make 21 cents less for every dollar a man makes . That’s close to 1 million dollars over a life time. There are many reasons for this phenomenon – today we focus on solutions because we have the power!


Educate Yourself
o www.wageproject.org to calculate what your job is worth in your area.


Practice
o Attend salary negotiation workshops or read any salary negotiation book then practice on a trusted friend. We recommend “Ask For It” by Linda Babcock & Sara Laschever because it is women centered. Workshops are tougher to find unless you are a recent college graduate. Check out Employment Action Center Women’s programs (612) 752-8444 or WIT@resource-mn.org.


Upgrade Your Skills
o Retrain & retool for the future. Attend a RichChicks class – www.richchicks.org. Check out Employment Action Center’s Women’s programs (612) 752-8444
or WIT@resource-mn.org.


Public Policy
o Call Senator Amy Klobuchar (202-224-3244) and Senator Al Franken ((202) 224-5641) and ask them to support the Paycheck Fairness Act. This bill helps close loop holes in the Equal Pay Act that made it difficult for women to win claims of pay discrimination. As a matter of fact only 15% of all discrimination claims are ever won! Patty Tanji, President Pay Equity Coalition of Minnesota’s Advise is: “Do not sue your boss!”


The above acts will help but won’t completely eliminate the gender wage gap until the work of women (that includes caregiving) is considered as valuable as the work of men in our culture – enough so that we are willing to pay for it – all of it!

Take Action
Learn More

Equal Pay Day Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Equal Pay Day is recognized annually by pay equity advocates around the country. In many communities in Minnesota and in the United States, equal pay day events take place to call attention to the wage gap between full time, year round, working women and men which is about $.22 (men earning more). Additionally it takes women about 15 months to earn as much as men do in 12 months, so creative events such as "unhappy hours" occur in mid-April. Check out Minnesota Business Women's 'unhappy hour' on April 30, 2010, 5:00-6:30 p.m. -- sponsored by Rich Chicks. The event takes place at the Crowne Plaza North in Brooklyn Center. The website is: www.mnbusinesswomen.org

U.S. Senate Hearing Paycheck Fairness

There will be a full U.S. Senate committee hearing -- 'A Fair Share for All: Pay Equity in the New American Workplace' March 11th at 10:00 e.s.t.

You should be able to view the hearing of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee at:

http://help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=263e16b9-5056-9502-5db9-e17bfa4f6e01

If this doesn't work goto: http://help.senate.gov/
-- and look for the appropriate hearing.