Glendale has become the seventh city to join the California Equal Pay Pledge, an initiative to help close the pay gap in the state.
The California Equal Pay Pledge is led by the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls and the Office of the First Partner, in collaboration with the California Partners Project.
Following a unanimous vote by the Glendale City Council in late February to become a California Equal Pay champion, city staff began collaborating with the Commission on the Status of Women to achieve this goal. On March 12, then Councilmember and current Mayor Elen Asatryan, who was the driving force behind the request, joined First Partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the CCSWG and the California Partners Project in recognizing California Equal Pay Day and in the launch of the California Equal Pay Playbook.
“The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is happy that the city of Glendale has made gender equity a priority and signed the Equal Pay Pledge,” said CCSWG Executive Director Holly Martinez. “Committing to fairness through this pledge is only a first step but it is a critical one. We know from our recent research that women are essential to the California economy, and that simply closing the pay gap will help reduce poverty for working women. We are so proud to partner with cities like Glendale in creating a California economy that works for everyone.”
The gender pay gap disproportionately harms women. In the United States, full-time female workers typically earn 84 cents for every dollar male workers make. In California, the gap persists across occupations and education levels. Black women lose $22,692 annually, Latinas $29,724 and Native women $28,797, according to data from the National Women’s Law Center.
“By adopting this pledge, Glendale becomes a model city in California and the nation, marking a significant step toward a brighter future for women, girls and equity,” said Asatryan. “It’s crucial to address disparities faced by women and the added layered disparities for minority women and women of color. With only one hired female department head and only seven women elected to the City Council in the history of our Jewel City, it is evident change is needed and we must be intentional in this space. Prioritizing pay equity, dismantling biases and barriers, and reviewing internal practices not only empower women but also strengthen the economy, families and society as a whole.”
More information about equal pay can be found on several sites including calpartnersproject.org/equal-pay-pledge, women.ca.gov/ and gov.ca.gov/first-partner/. For more details on the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women, visit glendaleca.gov/government/departments/city-clerk/boards-and-commissions/commission-on-the-status-of-women.
First published in the April 20 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
