Kelsey Briggs
Nov.15, 2018.
Table 1: (pictured left) Nynett Gonzalez calling the Senate to order while preparing to examine more bills.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – ALU-001 ensures that women are set to receive equal pay as men within the same positions in the work place in the state of Oklahoma.
ALU-001 passed in the Senate chamber Thursday, Nov. 15. The bill states that women will receive equal pay as men in their perspective authoritative jobs. Employers may no longer discriminate against sex, race, religion, or national origin. Within the context, the bill also specifically states in section 3, subsection D that, “No employer shall prohibit employees from wage discussion which discloses information about wages, earnings or salaries between employees.” Employees are inclined to have proper conversations with their employers about salaries and specific pay raises.
“I as a Latino woman only make half of what a white man would make. For me to make that same amount would be an entire year and 10 months,” said Nynett Gonzalez, Deputy President Pro Temp and author of ALU-001.
With the new bill in affect, Nynett discussed how she is ready to see this bill head new places. Her personal experience originated from her mother who had worked for a company who restricted her from a pay raise because she was a Latino woman.When her mother realized the wrong done by her company, she left in order to find a more equal paying opportunity. When asked how it will shape the future of women in the workplace, Nynett described women as finally having a “backbone” as well as “being able to pursue legal action” once they are denied the difference in the pay gap. Nynett hopes that this new bill will justify women in the work place having the ability to move up in their careers and receive the proper dues once they achieve them.
The bill is set to become effective 90 days after it is passedand approved. Once passed, if any company were to disagreewould result in a legal action. Exemptions are made to the bill through specific examples of seniority or a merit system in place within a company. The bill also explains that within a “bona fide factor other than sex” will be exempted as well.