A day to remember for wage equity in Massachusetts
August 7, 2024
Yesterday, at the Massachusetts State House, Gov. Maura Healey signed into law the Frances Perkins Wage Equity Act. The Boston Foundation is a proud partner, leading advocate and convener of the Wage Equity Now coalition, which has been working for years to bring this new law to fruition.
The Perkins Act, named after the Massachusetts native and former U.S. Secretary of Labor who was the first woman to hold a U.S. cabinet position, does two critical things. First, it requires employers to include salary ranges in job postings, removing the uncertainty of pay negotiations from new employment contracts that often penalize women and workers of color. Second, it allows the state to collect and publish aggregate data across sectors so it can track wage and workforce inequities by race and gender.
At the State House signing of the new law, Lee Pelton highlighted the importance of bringing this data to light. "Transparency breeds accountability," he said. "This law, and the transparency it brings, will help close the wage gap and build a Commonwealth that can better attract and retain talent."
This new law, made possible in part by TBF’s commitment to partner with advocates like Former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Murphy, makes it possible for us to begin facing one of the most pernicious systemic inequities in the job market – the wage gap. It is a critical first step in understanding our gender and racial wage gaps, and it will enable better strategies for closing them.
Our continuing advocacy work is a core part of our civic leadership strategy, to empower and partner with advocates, to uplift unheard voices, to raise important issues and to provide the research and data to support identified needs.
Made possible in part by donations to the Annual Fund for Civic Leadership, this work continues a long track record of TBF and its partners working effectively for more equitable city, region and state.
Thank you for your support making this important moment possible.
From left to right: Former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Murphy, chair of the Wage Equity Now Coalition, TBF President and CEO Lee Pelton, and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey at the State House signing ceremony for the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act.