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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Task Force on Equal Pay for Women: Montana Needs Culture Change

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Monday, September 19, 2016   

BUTTE, Mont. - The Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force meets at Montana Tech in Butte today to discuss strategies for closing the gender pay gap in the state.

The task force was first convened by Gov. Steve Bullock in 2013. Co-chair Sheila Hogan, director of the Montana Department of Administration, said one focus of the meeting will be a "Paycheck Fairness Act," which the group hopes will pass during the next Montana legislative session. A version of the act failed to pass in 2015.

"If this bill passes, it would allow employees to talk about wages and there would be no retaliation," Hogan said. "Some organizations do not necessarily like people talking about wages."

The task force also is offering a primer for private businesses that would like to audit themselves and assess whether they have gender or race disparities in their own compensation structure. Montana women make 67 cents for every dollar men make. The state is ranked 45th in the nation in terms of pay equity for women who work year-round and full-time.

Along with advocating legislation, the task force also provides wage negotiation classes for women and encourages them to explore jobs in the STEM fields - science, technology, engineering and math. Hogan said more than 150 businesses from across Montana have signed a pledge with the task force dedicating themselves to closing the gender wage gap, and hopes it's the beginning of a culture change in the Treasure State.

"It shows leadership on their part," she said, "and, quite frankly, I want to support those businesses that support me as a woman, and support my children."

Hogan said women can call a confidential hotline at 1-844-550-FAIR if they feel they aren't being compensated fairly.


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