TESTIMONY
Beverly Neufeld, Founder and President of PowHer New York, on Initiatives and Recommendations for Achieving Pay Equity and Addressing Gender and Racial Wage Gaps
2:35:01
·
4 min
Neufeld commends the NYC Council for their concrete actions using data transparency to address pay disparities.
- She praises Local Law 18 requiring workforce evaluation and salary transparency as successes in the fight for gender and racial equity
- Highlights the need to tackle root causes like occupational segregation through career development programs
- Advocates using job skills analysis to transition women into higher-paying roles
- Urges addressing the devaluation of work predominantly done by women of color, like caregiving
- Calls on the private sector to follow NYC's lead in analyzing, setting goals, and closing wage gaps
Beverly Neufeld
2:35:01
Thank you so much.
2:35:02
This has really been a fascinating can you hear me?
Carmen N. De La Rosa
2:35:05
Yes.
2:35:05
We can.
2:35:06
We can.
Beverly Neufeld
2:35:06
This has really been a fascinating hearing, and I've sat through the whole thing, and I'm really glad I did.
2:35:11
So much wonderful information.
2:35:13
I wanna thank the committee chairs for the seriousness of the way you're handling this.
2:35:17
Also, decast, the data team, CWA is certainly the mayor's office of equity.
2:35:25
All all important players in making pay equity happen in New York City on behalf of Newfell, founder and president of power in New York.
2:35:33
I think some of you know me.
2:35:34
I've been before, the council, before, most recently, about salary transparency bill, which is now law and which we will seek to improve with intro 808 till later on this year.
2:35:48
Local law 18 put New York City on the map in terms of the fight for gender and racial equity in the United States.
2:35:58
And with the requirement to evaluate the workforce and to create transparency.
2:36:03
But the goal was not just to do that.
2:36:06
The goal was to fix disparities.
2:36:08
And once again, New York City Council is breaking ground by using the data to address disparities with concrete actions congratulate you.
2:36:18
I believe the bills that are being introduced will address some of the root causes of the racial and gender discrimination.
2:36:26
I've been working on this now for 20 years and really thrilled to see these concrete actions.
2:36:34
One of the greatest causes is you recognize is occupational segregation, council member, Dela Rosa, your bill on career development, will be very helpful.
2:36:44
I will, with my testimony, offer another example of how pathways of equity are being created for women that has been led by the Institute for Women's Policy Research.
2:36:59
They looked at actual skill sets and saw how they could be adjusted to better paying jobs.
2:37:07
Workplace culture is
Michael Greco
2:37:09
Time to expire.
Beverly Neufeld
2:37:11
Counsel member Hudson And I think that is really important.
2:37:15
Please do.
2:37:16
Try to get feedback on programs that could be solutions that that people will be able to share, like childcare accessibility.
2:37:26
Opportunity Equity is now can that are one of the key issues in the international community to create pay equity, the European directive, is requiring this information, and it's considered so important.
2:37:41
Please do not undervalue one piece that was discussed, which is the devaluing of the work that women do.
2:37:50
Caregiving work mostly, mostly done by women of color, That's one of the biggest reasons that you pointed out.
2:37:57
The huge gap for black women is because It's almost a 100% by women.
2:38:04
Women of color doing this work.
2:38:06
So there's a way to evaluate it, and I wanna say that Commissioner Sherman is addressing that.
2:38:12
Through equal pay for work of equal value analysis, and I can only tell you that's will be an important solution Counsel member, Williams, you mentioned contractor is a huge issue.
2:38:25
I hope we can talk more about that.
2:38:27
New York City government is a role model for the country, but it's a role model for the private sector we call on the private sector to act sector to analyze, address disparities, set goals, close the wage gap.
2:38:45
It's exactly what you were doing.
2:38:47
You were standing up doing it, and we hope that other cities will.
2:38:52
And the private sector will as well.
2:38:55
I will offer you also with my testimony of fact sheet that was handed out at a recent event that count that the speaker spoke at about pay equity, and I will share that with you as well.
2:39:10
Thank you so much for hearing this.
2:39:12
And also, really thank you for these these important solutions.
