On the 5th Anniversary

Elanna Cahn — January 29, 2014 – 1:11 pm | Women's Leadership Network | Democrats | Domestic Policy | Women's Issues Comments (0) Add a comment

Today, we celebrate the 5^th Anniversary of the first law that President Obama signed in 2009 - The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

January 29, 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law to ensure protection against pay discrimination based on gender, race, national origin, age or disability. This law helps anyone who has ever been the victim of pay discrimination by ensuring their right to file a claim with each paycheck, not just the original decision to pay the worker less.

In her time working as a Manager at the Goodyear Tire factory in Alabama, Lilly Ledbetter was subject to sexual harassment and gender prejudice on a daily basis. She worked for 19 years without knowing she was being paid thousands of dollars less a year than her male counterparts. Lilly filed a sex discrimination case against Goodyear and won. However, as the case made its way through the courts, and up to the Supreme Court, it was overturned. The law stated that she should have filed her complaint within 180 days of her first paycheck. Because she did not know about the pay discrimination, she couldn’t have filed the complaint during the time allotted.

Because of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the 180 day window in which to file a complaint resets after EVERY paycheck. Now, when you find out you are a victim of pay discrimination, you can file a claim- it doesn’t matter if this is your first paycheck or your 50^th with the company.

Before the 2008 election, Senate Republicans and the George Bush White House opposed the Lily Ledbetter Act and prevented its passage. In 2009, Democratic women Senators worked with their colleagues and with the new President to pass this vitally needed legislation. Elections do make a difference!

Click here to watch President Obama sign the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law.

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