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  Member of Tennessee BPW/USA

Equal Pay Day
The next Equal Pay Day will be held on April 28, 2009

  
Each year, BPW/USA advocates across the country sponsor Equal Pay Day events to bring attention to our number one issue - Pay Equity. Due to the gender wage gap, nationally women earn 77 cents to each dollar paid to male counterparts. Over a working lifetime, this wage disparity costs the average American woman an estimated $500,000. April is symbolic of the time in the year that a woman must work to earn the wages paid to a man in the previous year. Below are some helpful tools and ideas to assist you in planning a successful Equal Pay Day event.  


BPW/USA's Unhappy Hour--Signature Event
BPW/USA encourages Local Organizations and State Federations to host events with an "Unhappy Hour" theme on Equal Pay Day. Hosting identical events across the country is a great way of branding BPW and generating national visibility for the issue of Pay Equity. So, if you are planning an Equal Pay Day event at your State Capitol, your local coffee shop, or town hall meetings with community organizations, please be sure to use the "Unhappy Hour" theme. Also, be sure to include this theme in all your media outreach efforts.
 

Equal Pay Day Talking Points

 

• According to the 2004 Census Bureau, a woman on average makes 77 cents per every dollar a man earns.

 

• Over a working lifetime, this wage disparity costs the average American woman and her family an estimated $500,000 in lost wages.

 

• Pay equity is at the forefront of BPW/USA’s legislative advocacy because no other single economic issue has a greater impact on the lives of workingwomen.

 

• BPW/USA leaders were present when President Kennedy signed the 1963 Equal Pay Act and continue to advocate for legislation such as the Paycheck Fairness Act that would further strengthen the Equal Pay Act.

 

• Having Equal Pay Day in April is symbolic of the point into the next year that a woman must work in order to earn the wages paid to a man in the previous year.

 

• BPW members and Local Organizations will be engaging in grassroots activities across the country on Equal Pay Day including hosting Unhappy Hours, issuing proclamations, lobbying their State House, and handing out information in their communities.

 

• The wage gap affects women throughout their working lives and then follows them into retirement when they receive lower pension and Social Security benefits based on the salaries they received while working.

 

Equal Pay Audit

 

Click Here for the BPW/USA Equal Pay Self Audit for Companies.

 

  

Equal Pay Day Proclamation

 

Here is a sample Proclamation to edit and have signed by your local representatives.

 

BPW Tennessee Equal Pay Day Commemoration


Governor Bredesen signed the Equal Pay Day proclamation for BPW/TN in April, 2007. 

Pictured here front row are from the left, Vicki Lake (Jackson), Carol Turpen (Jackson), Patricia Walker (Gallatin), Governor Bredesen, Sharon Taylor (Hendersonville), Mary Scott (Greater Nashville), Joyce Brokaw (Gallatin). Top row from the left, Beth Bates (Jackson), Linda Higgins (Jackson), Mary Jo Middlebrooks (Jackson) and Susan Jakoblew (Greater Nashville) 

Click Here to view the Tennessee Equal Pay Day Proclamation.
 

  

Hardeman County observes Equal Pay day

Here is the coverage for EPD in Hardeman County. To ensure adequate coverage of the event, we decided to commemorate the occasion throughout the county, instead of just in Bolivar. As a result we were able to receive proclamation from 5 of the 9 cities( making up over 90% of the county population), address the county commissioners, distribute pay day candy to city halls and over 40 businessess and GOT A HALF PAGE COVERAGE IN THE COUNTY WIDE NEWSPAPER.