Legislature passes bill to dismantle gender wage gap
Boston – State Senator Benjamin B. Downing (D – Pittsfield) has announced that the Massachusetts Legislature passed a measure on Saturday to ensure that men and women receive equitable compensation for comparable work. The bill prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in the payment of wages for comparable work unless the variation is based upon a mitigating factor including seniority; a system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production, sales, or revenue; education; training; or experience.
Notably, the bill prevents employers from requesting salary history in hiring, a measure designed to end the self-perpetuating cycle of wage disparity. Massachusetts would be the first state in the nation to adopt such a provision. However, prospective employees would not be barred from voluntarily disclosing their past salaries.
This bill represents a consensus-based effort to ensure that the legislation would be practical, effective and sustainable. Key to those efforts were defining “comparable work” and maintaining flexibility for performance-based compensation. The bill incentivizes companies to correct compensation disparities internally before going to court by creating a three-year affirmative defense from liability. Within that time period, employers would complete a self-evaluation of their pay practices and demonstrate reasonable progress in eliminating pay disparities.
The bill prohibits employers from reducing salaries in order to comply with the law, and also prohibits employers from preventing employees from talking about their salaries. It will be the strongest equal pay statute in the nation.
The legislation would take effect on Sunday, July 1, 2018. It will now go to the Governor for his consideration.
–E.E.
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Pittsfield named clean energy leader
Pittsfield – Pittsfield has been included in a new Environment Massachusetts Research & Policy Center report highlighting 16 Massachusetts cities and towns that are leading the way toward 100 percent renewable energy.
The report discusses Pittsfield’s renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, including the city’s large-scale solar energy development as well as interior energy audits and efficiency measures. Pittsfield has installed a 1.58-megawatt (MW) solar array on its municipal wastewater treatment facility and is set to open a 2.9 MW solar power plant in September on top of a capped landfill. City Hall has implemented several energy efficiency initiatives including the installation of high efficiency boilers and the switch to LED lightbulbs.
The report comes as Massachusetts legislators consider a potentially far-reaching energy bill. House and Senate leaders have until Sunday, July 31, to come to an agreement on energy legislation.
–E.E.
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Volunteers needed for walkability audit
Lenox – The Town of Lenox is seeking volunteers who are residents of Lenox to participate in a “walkability audit,” a survey of pedestrian accessibility and safety, of downtown Lenox on Thursday, July 28, beginning at 10 a.m. Participants will be offered training to conduct the survey and will complete it in teams. Volunteers must be able to get around by foot, bike, wheelchair or walker. Introductions and training will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the audit itself at 10:30 a.m. Lunch and a debriefing will take place at noon. The audit will help achieve goals and strategies stated in the Lenox Open Space and Recreation Plan. For more information, contact Community Center Director Kim Graham at (413) 637-5530 or Town Planner Gwen Miller at (413) 637-5500 x1203.
–E.E.
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Harrington urges legislature to override governor’s vetoes
Pittsfield – Democratic State Senate candidate Andrea Harrington is urging the State Legislature to restore funding that Gov. Charlie Baker recently cut from the state budget, which had been approved by the House and Senate.
Harrington said, “I am deeply troubled as several of the Governor’s vetoes will be harmful to the people and businesses in the Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Senate District. The Governor’s vetoes cut funding for drug treatment programs, early education, local healthcare infrastructure and the further expansion of the area’s creative economy. The Governor’s reduction of $7.7 million from the Massachusetts Cultural Council will have a negative impact on the arts and cultural economy in our region. Baker reneged on his promise to adequately fund salary increases for nursing home workers and home health aides. At the same time the Governor vetoed their pay raises, he gave massive pay increases to some members of his leadership team. ”
–E.E.
