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Does the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hate women?
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 In response to the Democrat's call to consider the Paycheck Fairness Act [S.182], a U.S. Chamber of Commerce blogger last week posted a highly controversial piece on Chamber Post – "Equality, Suffrage and a Fetish for Money" – in which he suggested women are to blame for the wage gap because of the personal choices they make (like having children), their "Scrooge-like fetish for money," and women should "choose the right place to work" and the "right partner at home."
Notwithstanding the insulting bias of the post, lurking behind it is The Chamber's opposition to the Paycheck Fairness Act. It also opposes efforts to make leave paid under the FMLA. And that's not all. The folks over at Firedoglake compiled a list of the Chamber's actions that illustrates clearly what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce thinks about America's working women:
- 1977: US Chamber opposes amendment to Civil Rights Act that would ban discrimination against pregnant women.
- 1978: US Chamber says pregnancy is a “voluntary” condition in its opposition to Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
- 1987: Family Medical Leave Act “sets a dangerous precedent,” according to the US Chamber.
- 1998: US Chamber opposes Equal Pay Act because “work experience does tend to create greater wage gaps.”
- 2007: US Chamber opposes Lilly Ledbetter’s court case for equal pay because “tear-stained testimony” prejudices against a defendant. Opposed the bill in Congress to right the wrongs against Ledbetter in 2008 and 2009 as well.
- 2007: Chamber official pledges “all out war” against Family Medical Leave Act, and in 2010 made it a “priority” to fight in Congress.
- Monday: US Chamber again cites pregnancy as a “voluntary choice.”
In 1920, women won equality at the polls. Ninety years later, women are still fighting for economic equality in the workplace. Unions have assured pay equity for all its members for decades, but its time all working women were afforded the same right to equal pay for equal work.
Related: Change to Win Goes After U.S. Chamber of Commerce U.S. and Chamber: Acting As If Women Aren't a Part of the Economy
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