A significant step on a steep path

The issue: Women in Connecticut working full time, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families, are paid 82 cents for every dollar paid to men.

And the numbers for African-American women — 59 cents on the dollar — and for Latinas — 48 cents —are substantially worse.

Consider these remarks from Lynda Laughlin, chief of the Industry and Occupation Statistics Branch at the U.S. Census Bureau.

“The pay gap has narrowed over the last 50 years. However, the gender pay gap continues across the board in almost all occupations. In 2016, median earnings for women was $40,675, compared with $50,741 for men.”

It’s going to take time for that to change.

But Tuesday, Connecticut took another step toward correcting this inequity when Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into law legislation that will help secure equal pay for equal work and diminish even the possibility of unintended wage discrimination.

Proposed by Malloy in his State of the State address earlier this year, the new law prohibits employers from asking about a prospective employee’s wage and salary history during the job interview process.

His signature made Connecticut the fifth state to adopt such legislation.

What we wrote: “If all the women in Connecticut earning equal pay were to stand together, they wouldn’t create a crowd...

To mark International Women’s Day Thursday, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made his final plea to close the gap in the workplace. It’s an unfortunate annual tradition, and we only wish Malloy’s successor could spend it next March by celebrating changes made in 2018.

This has always been a battle won by inches, and dollars. Among the initiative is Senate Bill 15 — An Act Concerning Equal Pay for Equal Work, which seeks to prevent employers from asking job candidates about their salary history. Consider it from the perspective of a female job candidate with a history of being underpaid. The chain is never broken.

It may make sense, but it failed a year ago. Demo- crats pushing for it were thwarted by employers who raised objections.

Even if all of Malloy’s proposals come to fruition during his final months as governor, it wouldn’t be enough to reach parity in the workplace.”

It’s encouraging that the bill passed overwhelmingly in the legislature. And while it is a positive step forward, reaching full gender parity in the workplace is going to take plenty more work.

Editorial, March 9, 2018

Where it stands: Thanks to the leadership of not only the governor, but that of key legislators, Public Act 18-8 will take effect on Jan, 1, 2019.

It’s encouraging that the bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers of the legislature.

And while it is a positive step forward, it remains true that reaching full gender parity in the workplace is going to take plenty more work.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, following the signing, was right when she said the legislation is a “good step toward establishing wage equality and strengthening the economic security of individuals and working families in Connecticut.”

Let’s keep the steps moving on this steep path.