“Today is a painful reminder that year after year, Latinas continue to face an unjust, punishing wage gap that drains much-needed resources from our families, our communities and our economy. This shameful discrimination hits Latina moms the hardest; on average, Latina moms are paid just 41 cents for every dollar paid to White, non-Hispanic dads. Overall, Latinas are paid a disgraceful 53 cents on a White, non-Hispanic man’s dollar, robbing families of resources needed to pay for the soaring cost of health care, child care, housing, groceries and more. Moms are determined to keep raising our voices until the wage gap is closed and everyone is paid fairly. 

“We need lawmakers to take bold action to dismantle structural racism, sexism and xenophobia in all its forms, and end the wage gap once and for all. But instead, President Trump is attempting to erase our voices and experiences from the Census data collection by banning questions about race and ethnicity and excluding many immigrant voices entirely. Census data is what helps make the wage gap visible in the first place, and MomsRising will mobilize our members to oppose these changes designed to disempower communities of color and immigrants. We will continue to fight for a world where no one faces discrimination because of race, gender, status as a mom, or any other factor. Latinas deserve full paychecks, and we won’t settle for less.” 

– Statement of Xochitl Oseguera, Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer, MamásConPoder

“It is a national disgrace that Latinas lose nearly half their paychecks to wage discrimination – and Latina moms lose more than half. The wage gap causes serious harm to families, businesses, and our economy as a whole. We cannot address our nation’s affordability crisis without closing the wage gap for Latinas, and for all women. But the Trump Administration is pushing changes to the Census that would make it harder to track the wage gap, at the same time that Republican policies are driving costs higher and higher which adds pressure to already too low paychecks. Families deserve better. Moms will continue to fight for the data we need to identify and eliminate the barriers to economic opportunity our communities are facing. And we will continue to demand Congress pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to protect workers from retaliation for speaking up about unfair pay, end the use of salary history in hiring, and strengthen penalties for wage discrimination. 

“Our families, our communities, our care sector, our nation’s businesses and our economy all depend on the invaluable contributions and expertise of Latina workers. It’s past time for everyone’s work to be recognized and supported with fair pay.”

-Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising