On the eve of Latina Equal Pay Day, the Los Angeles City Council paid tribute to Mónica Ramírez and Alexandra Torres Galancid for their tireless efforts in promoting women’s representation and equality in the workforce.
Latina Equal Pay Day, observed on October 5th, symbolizes the day when Hispanic and Latina women’s earnings “catch up” to their male counterparts in the workforce. Studies reveal that despite being one of the fastest-growing and influential groups in the United States, Latinas are paid 52% less on average compared to men.
Leading the presentation, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez emphasized the importance of addressing this issue, stating that correcting and reconciling the pay gap will not happen spontaneously.
Introducing Ramírez, the founder and president of Justice for Migrant Women, and Galancid, the executive director of Women In Non-Traditional Employment Roles (WINTER), Councilwoman Rodriguez recognized their contributions.
Rodriguez asserted, “We deserve to be respected and compensated accordingly for our talent and work ethic. Unfortunately, the wage gap persists, but through our incredible efforts, we can forge a path forward, speak truth to power, and bring about the necessary change.”
Ramírez acknowledged that Latinas work diligently across various industries and sectors, showcasing remarkable entrepreneurship. However, she highlighted the devastating consequences of the wage gap on the lives and families of Latinas.
Furthermore, Ramírez mentioned that the wage gap calculation now considers the experiences of part-time, seasonal, migratory, and other workers, providing a better understanding of the reality faced by the 27 million working women in the country.
According to officials, Latinas are paid 52 cents less on average, and 57 cents less for full-time work. While the national average for the wage gap is 57 cents to the dollar, in California, it stands at 56 cents.
For average immigrant workers, Latinas, or foreign-born Latinas in the United States, the wage gap widens to 46 cents to the dollar, demonstrating the urgency for change.
Ramírez expressed, “In 2015, we embarked on the National Latina Equal Pay campaign, taking public actions, organizing marches, hosting educational summits, lobbying Congress, and engaging with political bodies like yours to demand an end to this injustice.”
Galancid founded WINTER specifically to support women of color working in union construction jobs. Describing the challenges faced by women in this field, she compared them to a formidable fortress, which WINTER aims to dismantle.
Highlighting the progress made in the construction and building trades, Galancid stated that Latinas and women face cultural, legal, and institutional discrimination, and it is essential to dismantle these barriers.
Council members Nithya Raman, Eunisses Hernandez, Imelda Padilla, and Heather Hutt commended the honorees and underscored the significance of addressing the wage gap.
Hutt emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts, stating, “We must address these issues together as allies. We face similar challenges in the Black community, such as maternal morbidity and pay equity. We must strive for true equality.”
“We deserve better,” Hutt concluded.
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