Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach, and Fresno have become the first cities to sign the California Equal Pay Pledge, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced this week.
The cities join 111 companies that have also signed the pledge. Signatories commit to annual company-wide gender pay analyses, reviews of hiring and promotion procedures, and promoting best practices to close the wage gap.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson thanked Siebel Newsom for leading the initiative.
“This persistent wage gap holds women back and hurts families,” said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. “I am proud that Oakland is the first city in California to sign the Equal Pay Pledge. We owe it to our City workers – and all women – to send a clear message that everyone deserves equal pay.”
“Equality is a fundamental American value and the bedrock of our democracy, which is why California and the City of San Diego are dedicated to leading the nation on promoting women’s equality,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “From reestablishing the City’s Commission on the Status of Women to conducting our City’s first ever Pay Equity Study, San Diego is among those on the vanguard for women’s rights, and I’m proud to join many other local governments and business leaders in committing to the California Equal Pay Pledge.”
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said he’s proud that women make up 60 percent of his administration, including the City Manager, Chief of Staff, two Assistant City Managers, and his Communications Director.
“Citywide, we continue making great strides in evaluating and making equitable improvements- and that leads to better service for the people of Fresno,” he added.
Despite some of the most robust equal pay laws in the nation, California women still earn 88 cents for every dollar a man earns. Nationally, that figure is 77 cents for every dollar. The gap is even larger for Black women, Latinas, Native American women, and mothers.