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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING OCTOBER 3, 2024, AS LATINA EQUAL PAY DAY
WHEREAS, Latina Equal Pay Day is the approximate day Latinas must work into the new year to make what White non-Hispanic men made at the end of the previous year; and
WHEREAS, Latinas continued to face the pay gap that is, on average, 51 cents to every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. This number includes all Latinas with reported earnings, like part-time, seasonal, and migrant workers; and
WHEREAS, for full-time, year-round workers, the wage gap is 58 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men counterparts. This means, on average, that Latina workers stand to lose more than $1.2 million throughout a 40-year career due to the wage gap; and
WHEREAS, looking back over the past 30 years, Latinas have earned less than 60 cents for every dollar earned by non-Hispanic white men and today’s gap is five cents smaller than it was in 1990; and
WHEREAS, the low-wage work and the persistent gender wage gap also hurt not only Latinas but their families, as well, which makes them vulnerable to experiencing poverty, especially those who are single heads of households; and
WHEREAS, many jobs are considered essential but are severely underpaid such as caregivers and domestic workers compared to comparably skilled jobs in other industries that are male-dominated; and
WHEREAS, Latinas are overly represented in industries often characterized by low wages and a lack of basic workplace protections, including farm work, childcare, and domestic roles; and
WHEREAS, even though Latinas work in the healthcare field and other service jobs, they are still being paid way less than white men in these jobs; and
WHEREAS, the pandemic took a disproportionate toll on industries where the majority of workers are women of color, and even so women are more likely to lose their jobs compared to men; and
WHEREAS, Latina even with a bachelor's degree face a worse pay gap compared to a white man who also has college degrees; and
WHEREAS, even though women ask for raises or promotions at the same rates as men, only 71 Latinas are promoted to manager for every 100 men who receive a promotion; and
WHEREAS, women of color pay a high penalty for motherhood, often pushed out of their jobs and into lower-paying ones for taking time off to give birth which creates a ripple effect for years to come and backtracks them in the working field.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognizes Thursday, October 3, 2024, as Latina Equal Pay Day and applauds the work of Latina women all over.
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