Women are 60% of minimum wage workers, and a single mother with 2 children working at minimum is almost 30% below the poverty line. While these workers have been stuck at $4.25 an hour for five years, U.S. Senators' salaries have gone up by a third, to $133,600. Members of Congress who are blocking a vote to raise the minimum wage made more money during last year's one month government shutdown than these workers make in a year. Senator Bob Dole is using his majority leader status to keep the bill (S.413) from coming up for a vote. The Worker Options Resource Center is providing numbers (800-962-3524 or 800-972-3524) for you to remind your Senator that it takes a minimum wage worker 15.11 years to equal the $133,600 that a Senator makes every year. For information on the minimum wage or the campaign, contact Christine Owens or Michele Magar at the Worker Options Resource Center, 202-265-9573.

Fauziya Kasinga fled Togo at age 17 to escape female genital mutilation after having been sold into a polygamous marriage. She applied for asylum immediately, but was held in various U.S. detention centers for two years, often under brutal conditions. Her asylum case is currently pending before the Immigration and Naturalization Service. If she prevails, it could set a precedent for handling a broad array of claims from women who have suffered discriminatory cultural practices in their home countries. The International Human Rights Clinic at American University's Washington College of Law urges letters to U.S. Atty. General Janet Reno (fax 202-514-4371) asking her to grant Kasinga immediate asylum. Sample letters are available from the clinic by calling 202-274-4147.

For the first time in history, the President of the United States has signed a proclamation commemorating "pay inequity awareness day". That's the day on which women's earnings for 1996, when added to their entire '95 earnings, equal what men made in 1995 alone. Commend the President for recognizing that women are underpaid compared to men, and ask him to go the next step and endorse the Fair Pay Act, introduced in the Senate last month. Comment line 202-456-1111; fax 202-456-2461, E-Mail [email protected] For info on the Fair Pay Act call the National Committee on Pay Equity 202-331-7343.

"More than three decades after the passage of the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, women and people of color continue to suffer the consequences of unfair pay differentials. In comparing median weekly earnings, last year American women earned only 75 cents for every dollar a man brought home, with African American women and Hispanic women earning just 66 cents and 57 cents, respectively. Significant wage gaps exist for African American and Hispanic men, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans as well.

April 11 is the day on which American women's wages for 1996, when added to their entire 1995 earnings, finally equal what men earned in 1995 alone. Unfair pay practices exist at all education levels and in every occupation. Last year, women physicians and lawyers earned substantially less that their male counterparts. The problem is particularly acute in female-dominated professions and in jobs where minority groups are disproportionately represented. Though changing technologies and a growing demand for services have made their positions increasingly vital, America's child care providers, secretaries, textile workers, telephone operators, social workers, and maintenance people are among those who bear the greatest wage discrepancies.

Ensuring fair pay is an essential part of helping women and their families become and remain self-sufficient. According to 1993 data, the vast majority of households depend on the wages of a working mother, and 12 percent of all families are supported by a women working as the single head of household. Studies show that salary inequities often force women to turn to public assistance to keep a roof over their children's head and food on the table.

Fair pay equity policies can be implemented simply and without incurring undue costs. Twenty states have already established programs aimed at increasing the wages of employees in female-dominated jobs, and many private sector businesses have implemented voluntary policies. These employers understand that fair pay is an invaluable human resource management tool that helps attract and retain the best workers.

At the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, the United States joined more than 180 other countries to address problems facing women and to promote workers' basic rights. This was an important step, and we must build on it to further the dialogue about fair pay and treatment in this country. Women and minority workers have long fueled our Nation's progress, and we must do all we can to recognize their achievements and to leave a legacy of equality and justice for their children to cherish.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 11, 1996, as National Pay Inequity Awareness Day. I call upon Government officials, law enforcement agencies, business and industry leaders, educators, and all the people of the United States to recognize the full value of women's skills and contributions to the labor force. I urge all employers to review their wage-setting practices and to see that their employees, particularly women and people of color, are paid fairly for their work.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twentieth."

Even though women are the majority, you'd never know it by reading the newspaper. According to a new study by Women, Men, & Media, only 15% of front page references are to women. Male voices, activities, and images saturated the front pages (85% of references), local pages (76%), and business pages (86%) -- no need to even look at the sports pages. Just shows you the right wing is correct -- there really is a de-facto quota system in place. Order the full report from Junior Bridge, author of the study, at 703-671-5883.

Thanks to the many calls, faxes and E-mails from WFF readers and other activists around the country, President Clinton stood by women and vetoed the so-called partial birth abortion bill. President Clinton deserves our thanks for this stand, which will no doubt be used against him come November. Send your best to Bill at 202-456-1111; fax 202-456-2461; E-Mail [email protected]

April 25 is the 4th Annual Take Our Daughters to Work Day sponsored by the Ms. Foundation for Women. This year the Foundation has established a scholarship fund sweepstakes for girls 9-17. Three winners will get $20,000 savings bonds to be used for education, and each winner's school will be awarded $1,500 to be applied to the girls' athletic program. Get a sweepstakes entry form or organizing materials, t-shirts, buttons and hats from 800-676-7780. And to make the walls of your workplace girl-friendly, order a poster or display set from the National Women's History Project. They'll fax you info about what's available at woman-friendly prices. Call 707-838-6000 (8-5 Pacific time).

The National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education reports that the campaign to save the Women's Educational Equity Act is making an impact. There is now official word from Capitol Hill that while calls are being heard, more support is needed in the coming week. The Labor/HHS appropriations bill that could restore this funding did NOT comes up for the planned vote before the Congressional recess. NCWGE says the next week is particularly critical, since a vote must take place by April 24. They suggest contacting the Senators below (all numbers area code 202):

Tom Harkin (IA) 224-3254 fax 224-9369 E-MAIL [email protected]
Mark Hatfield (OR) 224-3753 fax 224-0276 (NO E-MAIL)
Dale Bumpers (AR) 224-4843 fax 224-6435 E-MAIL [email protected]
Herbert Kohl (WI) 224-5653 fax 224-9787 E-MAIL[email protected] te.gov
James Jeffords (VT) 224-5141 fax 228-1967 E-MAIL[email protected] .gov
Arlen Specter (PA) 224-4254 fax 228-1229 E-MAILsenator_specter@ specter. senate.gov

If you need sample wording for a letter, request by fax from Susan St. Peter (fax 313-577-3770) at Wayne State University. Send copies of your faxes/letters to Deputy Education Secretary Madeleine Kunin at fax 202-401-3093; E-MAIL [email protected]