A day for equal pay for Latinas

Most people have heard of the gender pay gap – data from the U.S. Census Bureau has found that women make about 82 cents on the dollar compared to men. But Latinas experience an even more drastic pay gap, earning only 54 cents on the dollar compared to men – yet Latinas are often the sole providers for their families. Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and other Austin leaders are trying to draw attention to this inequity by holding Latina Equal Pay Day today, Nov. 20. Said Garza in a press release, “The Latina pay gap is not an abstract concept. Families in Southeast Austin are living it every single day.” She continued, “When you combine lower incomes with a stagnant minimum wage, preemption on paid sick leave, and numerous other policy issues, you understand how these compound the impact on families and on the Latino community.” Garza and others invite community members to wear black clothing with red accessories today and to post pictures on social media with the hashtags #LatinaEqualPayDayATX and #BlackOutPayInequality.