BPW Advocacy – Equal Pay Day
BPW International’s advocacy on Equal Pay Day across all five regions.
How Equal Pay Day Became a BPW International Project
When Antoinette Rüegg started her presidency in 2002, she wished to contact the President of BPW USA, meaning the group who left BPW International in 1991*. Liz Benham made contact possible and in 2004 Antoinette Rüegg and Carolyn Grady, then President of BPW USA, met in New York. The exchange was very fruitful, and Antoinette Rüegg invited Carolyn Grady to the 2005 International Congress in Lucerne.
As a gift from BPW USA for the 75th anniversary in 2005, BPW International received the leadership program IDP (Individual Development Program), which BPW USA had developed for its members. In addition, BPW USA organized a two-day IDP seminar in New York from 2006 to 2008, just before the UN-CSW sessions began. BPW International members, who came from all parts of the world, greatly appreciated the IDP seminars and the lively exchanges. At the seminar, BPW USA trainers mentioned the USA Equal Pay Day project and showed the Red Purse as symbols.
A BPW member from Frankfurt, Ishinay Kemmler, took up the idea, and BPW Germany with President Bettina Schleicher organized the first Equal Pay Day in Germany in 2008. At the first Leaders’ Summit in 2009 in New York, organized by Past International Presidents Liz Benham and Antoinette Rüegg, Ishinay Kemmler reported on her Club BPW Frankfurt’s experience with the Equal Pay Day initiative. The spark was ignited and several participants of the Leaders’ Summit took up the Equal Pay Day idea, carried it into their Federations and Clubs and started various activities.
This is how the Equal Pay Day initiative became an official project of BPW International. A great example of a bottom-up initiative by BPW International. Looking at our International Theme today, the Equal Pay Day initiative is a great example of New Actions through Cooperation.
— Dr. Antoinette Rüegg, BPW International President 2002-2005
*The BPW in the United States of America split in 1991 into BPW USA (leaving BPW International) and in the part which is today called NFBPWC (part of BPW International).
Carolyn Grady, President BPW USA, and Antoinette Rüegg, President BPW International, in New York in March 2004
Equal Pay Task Force’s Report 2017-2021
by Dr. Bettina Schleicher, Chair
The Equal Pay Day Taskforce has led the campaign launched by BPW International since 2009. The Taskforce has convinced numerous member countries to join the campaign and implement Equal Pay Days in their countries. Since the beginning of the campaign until now, more than 35 countries have introduced Equal Pay Day. Almost all member countries participate in the campaign. The campaign has become a global movement beyond BPW, with BPW leading the way.
To achieve this, a side event on Closing the Pay Gap was held annually during CSW in New York. We invited politicians, entrepreneurs and experts to this side event and discussed with them how the global pay gap can be closed. The side events were always very well attended. After each side event, more countries joined the campaign.
There were also taskforce workshops at the conferences and meetings. The Taskforce and its members were also available as contact persons for the countries and supported them.
With the help of the campaign, the issue of Equal Pay for Equal Work has achieved a high profile world-wide. BPW International has cooperated with other institutions and organizations. Individual countries have established contacts with the government, parliaments, governments, companies, trade unions and the public. Activities in the countries vary, but are consistently carried out with great commitment from members.
From individual small events or meetings to large demonstrations and media-rich events. Several countries received financial support for the Equal Pay campaign from their governments or from companies. Companies offer discounts equal to the pay gap on Equal Pay Day. Equal Pay Day is covered on television, radio and in newspapers in many countries. Trade unions have also taken up this issue. In many countries, the pay gap has also become an election campaign issue for political parties.
Numerous websites have been opened. The internet is full of the Equal Pay issue. The campaign uses a logo developed by a BPW for its activities to make the pay gap clear.
Our campaign has succeeded in getting laws passed in some countries to prevent unequal pay and making unequal pay known to large sections of the population and increasing the pressure on politicians and companies. In the process, we have found many allies. The issue has become a worldwide topic not only of BPW. Even though the wage gap still exists worldwide, we can notice that the gap is closing. BPW is carrying this issue forward and all countries and members are proud that it was and is BPW that contributed a lot to closing the wage gap.
Dr. Bettina Schleicher, BPW Germany, Chair Task Force Equal Pay
Task Force Members
Chair: Dr. Bettina Schleicher, Germany. Members: Sandra Cook (Asia Pacific), Sheila Crook (Canada), Elke Ickert (Europe), Lucille Isingoma (Africa), Johanna Marius (Africa), Marta Solimano (Latin America, Argentina), Barbara Yong (North America).
BPW International Report 2017-2021 / Workbook 2021, p. 55
Equal Pay Day in Switzerland
As the coordinator of the Equal Pay Day campaign in Switzerland for 4 years, I saw the enormous effort made by BPW Switzerland in the three language regions of the country. Nearly 400 events were organized and 100,000 bags distributed hand to hand. However, there was a lack of unity, a place from which one could grasp the magnitude of the only public awareness campaign on equal pay for women and men in Switzerland.
I decided to write about the first decade of Equal Pay Day in Switzerland and interviewed the first BPW members who really stood up against the secrecy that reigned on this issue. Their testimonies are inspiring and still feed my motivation.
They are gathered in the French ebook Equal Pay Day. They stood up for Equal Pay in Switzerland, 2020, available at www.kobo.com and www.orellfuessli.ch.
— Cathy Savioz, BPW Geneva
