WASHINGTON – Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) issued the following statement today after the president signed two executive orders mandating further reforms to the employment practices of federal contractors:
“President Obama took another important step today to make the federal government a leader in fair labor practices. The action today will ensure women working for federal contractors know if they are getting equal pay for equal work.
“In the richest nation in the history of the world, we must close the wage gap between men and women. The president’s action requires federal contractors to provide compensation numbers that include data on race and gender. The second executive order will allow employees to discuss their pay with colleagues without fear of retaliation from their employer.
“Increasing transparency makes it easier for workers to know if they’re underpaid. These two orders give more power to the hard-working people who serve the federal government in contract positions. We applaud the president’s leadership and we urge the Senate to build on it by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act tomorrow. The private sector should follow the government’s example and close the pay gap for all workers. ”
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