New legislation in Philadelphia aims to prevent discrimination during the hiring process and reverse the disparity in salaries earned by women and minorities compared to white, non-Hispanic men. Comcast wrote a 25 page memo opposing this. This fascinating article on http://www.phillyvoice.com shows how far Comcast is willing to go to pay woman and minorities less…
Two local law professors with decades of legal experience say Comcast is taking an “arrogant” and “insidious” position by opposing a pending wage gap ordinance that would bar Philadelphia employers from asking job applicants to disclose their salary history.
The legislation, sponsored by Philadelphia City Councilman-at-Large Bill Greenlee, was approved by a 16-0 vote in early December. It aims to prevent discrimination during the hiring process and reverse the disparity in salaries earned by women and minorities compared to white, non-Hispanic men. Modeled on a similar law adopted by the Massachusetts state legislature in August, Greenlee’s ordinance would become the first of its kind enacted by a U.S. municipality.
Mayor Jim Kenney signaled his support and intent to sign the legislation immediately after City Council’s vote in December, but more than a month after the Title IX amendment to the Philadelphia Code gained passage it’s still awaiting his signature.
“What government is trying to do is something everybody applauds, which is eliminating prejudice, whether it’s on the basis of race, gender or religion.” — Burton Caine, Temple University law professor
A 25-page memo sent to the city’s Law Department could help explain why.Written by Comcast senior Vice President David L. Cohen and Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce CEO Rob Wonderling, the memo argues the wage discrimination ordinance violates an employer’s First Amendment right to free speech…. Read more here…
