message
Join by Mother’s Day to send a powerful message about fair pay for women in the workplace!
Lilly Ledbetter worked for Goodyear for over 20 years, and only upon retirement was she informed that she had consistently made significantly less than every man in the same position for her entire career. She was significantly less than the lowest paid male in a similar position.
Goodyear Tire Co refused to settle the case for a measly $60,000, the difference between Ledbetter’s pay and the lowest paid male worker in the same position. A jury awarded Ledbetter damages of $223,776 in back pay and over $3 million in punitive damages, but Goodyear Tire Co still didn’t want to pay. They took it to Supreme Court and won (right after Bush’s appointees were placed) because the judge claimed Ledbetter should have filed her claim within 180 days of her first paycheck. The court ignored the fact that Ledbetter had no way of knowing of the disparity until someone sent her an anonymous letter after she retired.
This is unacceptable behavior and an unacceptable ruling. Consumers can’t always affect public policy swiftly, but choosing where and when to spend our dollars is a powerful way to change corporate policy, and by domino effect, public policy and the very landscape of our culture. Women fought hard against public policy and laws to earn certain rights and freedoms. Corporations still do not honor these rights. So we must take action directly against the bottom line of corporations that decide to behave irresponsibly and think they can power there way through the court systems.
Do not let Goodyear Tire Co get away with unfair pay practices. Join the Goodyear Tire Co boycott today. Spread the word on your blogs, through email, and by word of mouth. Create a buzz and let’s together reach and surpass the goal of 10,000 people to boycott Goodyear Tire Co. until they correct their pay practices, and settle with Lilly Ledbetter.
Though 10,000 boycotters may be only a drop in the bottom line of a large corporation like Goodyear Tire Co, it will still send a powerful message. The goal is 10,000 to begin the boycott, but we can do much better than than, and we can specify a clear amount of time. In addition, we can create a powerful social media buzz that will be found in the search engines for years to come.
