Lilly Fights to End Wage Discrimination with New Equal Pay Bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is demanding equal pay for women by introducing legislation banning corporations from using the unfair practice of requiring prospective employees to submit their salary history in order to lock women into a lifetime of lower pay.

“We all know that it is unfair to pay women less when they have the same experience and the same duties as male coworkers, and yet corporations continue to do it. We need to start cracking down on the practices that employers use to cheat female employees,” said Lilly. “Women have historically earned less than men and wage discrimination is even worse against women of color. My bill stops corporations from using this history of discrimination against them.”

Lilly is a sponsor of House Bill 834, which strengthens state law barring employers from paying different wages to employees who perform similar duties and have a similar experience. This measure also makes it unlawful for an employer to require job applicants to reveal their past wage or salary during the application process. The purpose of this legislation is to put an end to the fact that women have historically been paid less than their male counterparts.

Lilly has fought for similar legislation in the past, helping put a bipartisan measure on the governor’s desk. Unfortunately, former Gov. Bruce Rauner chose to protect corporations over workers and vetoed the legislation.

“We have not only an opportunity but an obligation to move Illinois forward, and that starts by ending outdated and discriminatory practices like unequal pay,” Lilly said. “It is unacceptable that wage discrimination against women exists and I will fight every day to make sure women receive equal pay for equal work.”