December 8, 2022: Latina Equal Pay Day

WHEREAS, more than 50 years after the passage of the federal Equal Pay Act, women in Michigan continue to suffer the consequences of unequal pay, with even greater disparities across race and ethnicity; and,

WHEREAS, Latinas must work until December 8, 2022 to make the same amount as their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts were paid in 2021; and,

WHEREAS, according to the National Women's Law Center, women overall working full-time, year-round are typically paid only 83 cents for every dollar paid to their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts; and,

WHEREAS, the average Latina in the United States who works full-time, year-round is typically paid 57 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men and must work nearly 23 months to earn what white men earn in 12 months; and,

WHEREAS, in 2020, this gap in pay for the average Latina typically amounted to a loss of $2,409 every month, $28,911 every year, and $1,156,440 over a 40-year career; and,

WHEREAS, women continue to experience a pervasive wage gap with real consequences for their families, communities, and our nation; and,

WHEREAS, these lost wages mean that women have less money to support themselves and their families, save and invest for the future, and spend on goods and services; families, businesses, and the economy suffer as a result; and,

WHEREAS, on this day, we raise awareness of the need to institute fair pay policies which will allow us to achieve pay equity across the board for all women;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim December 8, 2022, as Latina Equal Pay Day in Michigan.