April meeting post

Our next meeting is scheduled for April 12, 2017 from 5-7 pm and will be held at the (Old Jail building) BARNSTABLE COUNTY COMPLEX, 3195 Main St., Barnstable, MA


The harbor view conference room is located on the Barnstable County campus, in the west wing of the old jail at the back of the complex. Nearby parking is limited.

It takes more than one day to recognize Equal Pay!

One of the biggest victories the Massachusetts Committee on the Status of Women (MCSW) has celebrated was the passage of the Equal Pay Act last year. The work continues. The MCSW continues to be part of the Mass Equal Pay Coalition as they oversee and remain involved in the implementation of the law.

Until the law is in full force, women's pay overall remains unequal.

Tuesday April 4, is Equal Pay Day, but the issue lives on throughout the year. Tuesday is the day of the week women have to work to, to be paid equal to a man working the previous week. The figure that is thrown around is $.82 to a man's dollar when people talk about the percentage of pay women get compared to a man.

But when you delve into the details, it gets worse.

In MA these are the actual dates women have to work to, to equal a man in the previous year:

• ·         May 1 – White women
• ·         July 31 – African American women
• ·         September 25 – Native American women
• ·         November 2 – Latina women

Here are a few more facts to consider:

In Massachusetts more than 319,000 family households are headed by women. About 26 percent of those families, or 81,755 family households, have incomes that fall below the poverty level. Eliminating the wage gap would provide much-needed income to women whose wages sustain their households.

On average, Massachusetts women who are employed full time lose a combined total of  more than  $11 billion every year due to the wage gap. These women, their families, businesses and the economy suffer as a result. Lost wages mean families have less money to save for the future or to spend on basic goods and services  – spending that helps drive the economy.  If the annual wage gap were eliminated, on average, a working woman in Massachusetts would have enough money for approximately:

• 85 more weeks of food for her family ( nearly two years’ worth);
• Six more months  of  mortgage and utilities payments; 

or

• More than 10 additional  months  of rent. 

It has been a long fight.   The MA Equal Pay Bill is the strongest and most comprehensive law in the country. But it still has to be implemented without changes and regulations that will reduce it's impact on the disparity.  We will keep you posted.

 

You are invited! Free and open to the public, an important panel discussion on Equal Pay

The Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy in Partnership with the Massachusetts Coalition for Equal Pay

Invites you to a free educational panel:

  Achieving Equal Pay:

The New Law for Employers, Employees,

and Job Seekers

DATE: Tuesday, March 21, 2017

TIME: 4:00 to 6:00pm

LOCATION:

UMass Boston

Campus Center
Room 3540 (3^rd floor)

100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125

March Meeting Posting

Our next meeting is scheduled for March 8, 2017 from 5-7 pm amd will be held at the (Old Jail building) BARNSTABLE COUNTY COMPLEX, 3195 Main St., Barnstable, MA

Reminder: Join us as we welcome the Massachusetts Commission to Wareham!

Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women Public Hearing Wareham, MA

Date: February 28, 2017
Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Location: Wareham Free Library 
 See map below

This is an excellent opportunity to speak to issues that are important to you here on Cape Cod. Testimony isn't just limited to organizations, individuals are welcome too to testify.

 Please click here to RSVP



The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is a state-established body charged with reviewing the status of women in Massachusetts, and offering recommendations regarding policy that would improve access to opportunities and equality.

The Massachusetts Commission is composed of 19 volunteer commissioners, who dedicate their time to assessing the status of women in the Commonwealth and pushing for beneficial legislative changes.

Commissioners are appointed by one of four appointing authorities: the Governor, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, and the Caucus of Women Legislators.

Our commission, Cape Cod and Islands, is a regional commission, that reports to the State Commission. Many of our commissioners will be in the audience at this hearing. We encourage anyone with issues they want to share with the state commission to come and speak.

Join us when the Massachusetts Commission on the Status Women comes to Wareham

Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women Public Hearing Wareham, MA

Date: February 28, 2017
Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Location: Wareham Free Library 
 See map below



 Please click here to RSVP



The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women is a state-established body charged with reviewing the status of women in Massachusetts, and offering recommendations regarding policy that would improve access to opportunities and equality.

The Massachusetts Commission is composed of 19 volunteer commissioners, who dedicate their time to assessing the status of women in the Commonwealth and pushing for beneficial legislative changes.

Commissioners are appointed by one of four appointing authorities: the Governor, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, and the Caucus of Women Legislators.

Our commission, Cape Cod and Islands, is a regional commission, that reports to the State Commission. Many of our commissioners will be in the audience at this hearing. We encourage anyone with issues they want to share with the state commission to come and speak.

February Meeting

Our next meeting is scheduled for February 8, 2017 from 5-7 pm amd will be held at the (Old Jail building) BARNSTABLE COUNTY COMPLEX, 3195 Main St., Barnstable, MA