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(Anaheim, CA, 9/22/15) – The California chapter of the Council on American – Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) applauds the California state legislature for passing SB 358 with strong bipartisan support. The bill was part of CAIR-CA’s legislative agenda for Muslims Day at the Capitol (MDAC) where 500 participants lobbied their state representatives to pass this and other bills. The bill has been sent to the Governor and is awaiting his signature. If passed, California would have the toughest law in the nation to close the gender pay gap.
SB 358, authored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, bans retaliation against women who discuss their pay, or inquire about the salaries of colleagues. It also allows employees to challenge wage gaps “for substantially similar work,” unlike the previous standard, where the jobs had to be identical at the same company location for employers to be held accountable for disparities in salaries. SB 358 was part of CAIR-CA’s legislative agenda for their Muslim Day on the Capitol in April where nearly 500 Muslims from all over California traveled to Sacramento to meet with their legislators to advocate on the bill.
“Women in 2013 working full-time in California make on average 84 cents to every dollar earned by a man, and the disparity is even greater of women of color, at African American women earning 64 and Latino women earning 44 centers,” said Haroon Manjlai, Public Affairs Coordinator for CAIR-Greater Los Angeles Area. “This inequality contributes to higher poverty rate among women, who collectively lose nearly $34 billion every year. We are happy to see bipartisan support on this important legislation and call on Governor Brown to sign it into law.”
Governor Brown has till October 11th to sign the bill.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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