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Statement from Nevada AFL-CIO on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day

Shelbie Swartz
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Las Vegas, Nev. — Today, August 3, 2021, marks Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, the day into the year on which it takes for a Black woman on average to earn what a white man in a comparable position did in all of 2020. To mark the day, Nevada AFL-CIO Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rusty McAllister released the statement below:

“All people should have access to equal pay for equal work. By working together, we can fight for Black women to receive equal pay by increasing their wages, ensuring access to better benefits, and combating discriminatory practices,” McAllister said. “A union contract is the single best tool we have to close racial and gender wage gaps, and to ensure dignity and due process for workers, regardless of where we were born, who we are, or what industry we work in. By passing the PRO Act, we can expand access to collective bargaining and close this chasm of pay inequity for Black women—and all workers.”

Background:

  • According to the U.S. Census, on average, Black women were paid 63 percent of what non-Hispanic white men were paid in 2019. That ratio is worse than the national earnings ratio for women overall at 82 percent.

  • On average, it takes a Black woman 19 months to be paid what the average white man takes home in 12 months. 

  • The pay and wealth disparities that Black women face affect not only individuals but also the people around them. A fair salary can mean the difference between struggling and sustainability for a family.