Sen. Brouk co-sponsors bill requiring pay transparency

[anvplayer video=”5065104″ station=”998131″]

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — A New York State Senator who represents the Rochester area is co-sponsoring a bill to require pay transparency.

Under the legislation, employers would have to tell applicants and employees how much positions pay and their benefits.

Samra Brouk (D, 55) signed on as a co-sponsor on Oct. 19.

Assemblymembers Sarah Clark (D, 136), Jennifer Lunsford (D, 135), Harry Bronson (D, 138) and Demond Meeks (D, 137) cosponsored the Assembly version of the bill.

The bills are still in committee in the Assembly and the Senate.

If passed, the act would take effect 180 days after enactment.

Thursday the Pay Equity Coalition, community members and leaders gathered outside of the Liberty Pole in Rochester in support of the bill.

It also marked Latina Women’s Equal Pay Day.

The average Latina makes 56 cents for every dollar the average white man makes. It’s important to note that statistic is an average of all people in both demographics, and is affected by differences in career choices, hours worked and other variables.

"I’m a Latina. I went to the University of Michigan, I went back to Puerto Rico and I got my degree and I’m an attorney," Samantha Parisi said. "The welcome to the profession is 56 cents to the dollar compared to what he makes."

The group also said Latinas had the highest unemployment rate of any demographic last month.