REMARKS
Council Member Amanda Farías presents Intro 984 on pay equity and transparency
0:05:13
·
5 min
Council Member Amanda Farías presents her bill, Intro 984, which aims to address pay and employment equity for private employees in New York City. She discusses the importance of wage transparency and equity in combating systemic inequities, particularly for women, people of color, and working-class New Yorkers. Farías also mentions Intro 982, a related bill by Council Member Caban, and explains how both bills work together to tackle wage inequity.
- Intro 984 would require an annual study on pay and employment equity among private employers with 150 or more employees.
- The study would examine disparities based on protected classes such as gender, race, age, and disability status.
- Farías emphasizes that wage transparency is crucial for empowering workers to fight for fairness and closing the pay gap.
Amanda Farías
0:05:13
Thank you, chair, and good morning, colleagues and everyone present today.
0:05:16
I am proud to be before you to discuss intro 984, a bill I've introduced that seeks to address one of the most pressing issues in today's workforce, pay and employment equity for private employees.
0:05:27
This bill is part of our continued effort to ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of their background, race, gender, or any other protected class, are treated fairly in the workplace.
0:05:36
I want to extend my thanks to the coprimes sponsors of this bill, including coprimes majority with Brooks Powers and and council member Tiffany Caban, whose bill intro 982 is also being considered alongside mine.
0:05:48
Together, these two bills aim to shine a light in the disparities that persist in the labor market and provide actionable data that would help us close the wage gap and create more equitable workplaces.
0:05:59
We all know that wage transparency and equity are crucial for addressing systemic inequities.
0:06:04
Women, particularly women of color, immigrants, and working class New Yorkers, continue to face wage gaps and employment disparities.
0:06:11
It is unacceptable that in 2024, women still earn significantly less than men for the same work, with Latinas, Black women, and other women of color experiencing even larger gaps.
0:06:22
These inequities compound over time, affecting families, communities, and our local economy.
0:06:27
For working class people, pay inequity exasperates the struggles they already face, high housing costs, health care expenses, and the challenge of raising a family in one of the most expensive cities of the world.
0:06:38
Without transparency and accountability, these disparities remain hidden, making it difficult for workers to advocate for fair compensation or for policy makers to effectively address the problem.
0:06:49
My bill, intro 984, would require the Office of Data Analytics, working with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and the New York City Commission on Human Rights to conduct an annual study on pay and employment equity among private employers with a 150 or more employees.
0:07:05
This study will examine disparities based on the protected classes in our city's human rights law, such as gender, race, age, and disability status, so we can clearly identify where the inequities exist.
0:07:16
We are in ongoing discussions on employee sizes with advocates and look forward to hearing more from the public today.
0:07:22
With this data in hand, we'll have the tools to hold employers accountable and to ensure that pay equity action plans are not only recommended but also implemented across industries.
0:07:33
My bill mandates that these findings be reported annually to the mayor and the city council with clear recommendations on how to eliminate wage gaps and promote fairness in hiring and promotions.
0:07:43
Thankfully, council member Brekavan and I think alike, and I have the say had the same similar idea a little later than she did, and so I get the opportunity to co prime on her intro 982.
0:07:54
Council member Caban's bill focuses on compliance with equal pay laws in regard to improving wage transparency by requiring employers to report specific wage and employment information to the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
0:08:08
And as we have been in so many discussions with advocates, changes are currently also being considered on employee size, and we look forward to hearing that feedback today.
0:08:16
This information includes job titles, salaries, and demographic data, like gender and race, and will provide much needed transparency in the workplace.
0:08:24
Together, these bills form a comprehensive approach to tackling wage inequity.
0:08:29
Intro 982 creates transparency by bringing employer practices into the public eye, by collecting and and and analyzed data from employers, while my bill follows up by analyzing this data and ensuring that we take proactive steps to ensure disparities through informed policy.
0:08:47
Wage transparency isn't just about accountability.
0:08:49
It's about empowerment.
0:08:51
When workers can see the numbers, they can fight for fairness.
0:08:55
Wage transparency is one of the most powerful tools we have to close the pay gap.
0:08:58
It allows employees to understand how they are being compensated in comparison to their colleagues, which is especially critical for women, people of color, and working class New Yorkers who have been historically paid less.
0:09:10
Transparency brings these disparities to the forefront, forcing employers to justify pay differences and paving the way for fairer compensation structures.
0:09:19
Moreover, wage transparency promotes trust and fairness in the workplace.
0:09:23
It ensures that decisions around pay, promotions, and benefits are based on merit and not biased against protected classes.
0:09:31
With these 2 bills, we are taking a stand to ensure that pay equity is no longer a distant goal but a reality for all New Yorkers.
0:09:38
As a council, we must continue to lead the change and charge for fair and transparent workplace practices.
0:09:44
Intro 984 and 982 are steps towards dismantling the systems that perpetuate inequity and inequality and advancing justice for working people across our city.
0:09:54
I urge my colleagues to support these bills, not only because they're the right thing to do, but because our city's future depends on creating workplaces that reflect the values of fairness, equity, and opportunity for all.
0:10:06
Thank you, chair, for the time.
Nantasha M. Williams
0:10:07
Thank you.
0:10:08
And now, council member Hanks, followed by Council Member Caban for more remarks on their bills.