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The Fight for Equal Pay

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    Activist Lilly Ledbetter speaks with Alan about Mitt Romney's position on equal pay

  • Duration 10:04
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Ledbetter your microphone ms.

Ledbetter has written grace and grit -- fight for equal pay and -- is a good year and beyond and has become an icon to many because of the issue.

The ability to -- your employer of equal pay for equal work.

Ms.

Ledbetter thank you so much -- and throwing it and appreciate very much.

-- thank your front and make I wonder what you're thinking in 2009.

As she stood with President Obama in his first piece of legislation.

Named after you.

I'll adult -- proud of that Alan I'll tell you it was all.

-- really.

Impart on time in my life just load -- -- -- there is suppressed that was my -- history.

And cited -- -- that would remain so much to -- mainly American women.

Now Tuesday is is national equal pay day in the United States.

And the irony is after all of this after your name -- become.

Iconic and associated so much now with the issue of equal pay for equal work and the ability to pursue that with -- your employer you didn't see a penny of that.

-- or not.

So your legacy -- leaves I mean you did so much for so many other women but at some point you realize you would not be the personal beneficiary of this.

Well it was still important are they other people but -- I would have been very proud.

Many years ago had someone done it part may.

And I was in a position that I could -- that's so I had to do it.

I jumped in the middle here you know and kind of went to the end of the story in 2009 to -- you story has been so often told but for those who didn't know.

You're an overnight supervisor at the Alabama Goodyear Tire & Rubber company for nineteen years.

You're one of the first women there in a management position correct.

Yes and someone anonymously.

Informed -- after all those years.

Then you were not getting equal pay for some of the same work men which doing did you never fan and that was did you.

No I did not any suspicions.

I know it could've been you know most anyone that stick could have gained access -- that record.

-- do you would you got that information because had been whispers about this.

Pull yourself together to do your shift that night.

The results in hard but 'cause the first thing that popped them up look how much much violated download -- And simply book policy.

A bell worked because for a fund management was played over time and that -- -- me a tremendous amount of money through the years.

And they -- which is really a bearish devastated.

Humiliated.

If you -- and it would just really hard to get it together.

To get.

About the energy encouraged to go by the people not knowing exactly which one I would be looking at that Italy have made that -- -- the the Persian Levy the note an effort to help you -- -- were they trying to insult to him.

I think they helped -- about cause.

And I felt like that I really invasion though.

And I've dropped filed the charge in the information was adopted back to the company -- from that vehicle and plot but.

I got in the -- analyze the -- sheet of the -- managers.

And -- -- attorney and we had that is trial and otherwise we would not have had it but -- Big year did not -- my personnel records.

-- tourney or two that you Chia flour it.

And they said they thought they hit burn those records because -- -- rated -- close a factory.

-- -- you make the decision to stand up to a major American corporation.

Knowing full well you would be mocked ridiculed.

You might lose and you might lose everything you'd ever worked for.

That's exactly right well.

It was.

Not -- and you know we live in a country that we are afforded Mollison certain privileges and riots.

And have always tried to follow of those the best I could and I just couldn't let this go because this -- not -- it was not.

The American way you know all had been alma.

It was actually don't -- what I got to the Supreme Court.

And those just this this change that wall Monday night that really.

And the sad part about it it was if another 54 decision that was right along party lines just like bush vs gore.

Which unfortunately brands the court is some kind of partisan court.

And it was even it was Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a -- -- in her dissent actually advised.

That congress revise the law.

So did she says I don't -- -- -- -- -- in the real court I just don't understand what is clock and the real world.

And she said -- that they -- to change this thing just this.

Back and abolishing your court.

-- challenge contrary she says it's up to use.

Changed this back and that's exactly like picked up that ball and immediately got to work -- it and it took a frightening months.

And Republicans stood behind that too by the way.

I did today absolutely via the Ledbetter -- was dragged it.

But Democrats and Republicans this wasn't just the democratic -- And this is a bill that belongs to every cent of fronts in this country and they can be proud of it and a lot of the media today.

-- about that this -- Mostly Democrat.

There was more Democrats voted probably but this bill was drafted -- vote Republican and Democrat.

-- -- -- your reaction though because Diane Sawyer asked Mitt Romney.

On ABC yesterday I don't know that this section never actually aired.

But it was reported that she said I wanna talk about a couple of -- relating to women I'm reading a quote now from the interview -- nineteen point difference between you and the president on women.

Here are some specific questions if you were president.

You had been president would you have signed the Lilly Ledbetter law.

-- said it's a piece of legislation I have no intention of changing I wasn't there three years -- -- -- -- to resist but would you sign it.

Remember he says I'm not gonna go back to look at all the prior laws and say I'd been there which ones I -- which was I wouldn't sign.

But I support equal pay for women and have no intention of changing that law are you satisfied.

-- Mitt Romney's response that question.

They that one that really concerns me not knowledge that one but when he's.

Thing.

I had to tell the reporter the other day from the Huntington probably -- They get back to them that they'll bothers me that what also bothers me is black code.

Ed Schultz punish you know that's don't know Brian your nation that then -- -- I'll have met.

No I would not repealed by and the late day -- ban.

The response.

And it goes on -- may outlaw had -- -- enthusiastic.

No I'm not going to repeal plan.

When -- Mitt Romney didn't give that enthusiastic -- seemed like the people who spoke on behalf of Mitt Romney to the Huffington Post.

Didn't seem to know no with the Lilly Ledbetter act like it's.

I know and that really concerns me that -- made it.

They are way out of touch.

This suppose at war on women from your perspective does that -- exist.

And is that are what is it a warped promulgated by the Republican Party.

Well I don't know I don't know about -- that is from the Republican Party but I know they're the ones is talking about it.

And is famous that.

Every time I turn around there's not -- mail that is a big discussion on and it all relates to women and their family.

Your family.

And as you go to into this in your book where did you -- to pay a personal price for your family for what you went -- -- you have the support of your family your kids.

And your and you lost your husband of the -- a couple years ago were -- supportive of what you're doing.

Yes yes they did Iraq could not have done it but -- cal volume assists today.

Around the country are now individual needs three things.

Can follow.

On the case like this can go into -- didn't make it.

But policy plumbing that years from that have not filed a charge until that final verdict.

First the person has -- -- sprawl individual and I have to have a family that supports -- and by Cuba have a strong play.

The and you fortunately had all those thing to do ever envision yourself during the nineteen years you worked in Alabama -- could hear the one day you would be.

This iconic figure responsible for a major legislative change and going around the country.

Inspiring people about -- what needs to be done to -- equal equal things up for women than -- ever imagine this would be your life.

No sir I did not certainly did not and I never.

Started out moderately live Larry working years thank -- -- someday I would help my and I -- all that case that would make it.

Canada's Supreme Court and especially never a -- all that would care among nine.

And I am so hobbled by bad recognition.

Alone but what it means that other people.

And just -- people know it was that you could not sue.

At first because they said it is from the first paycheck.

There's 180 day statute to limitations but you only found out about the disparity after that fact so now because of view.

Women can sue from the time they find out about the disparity which gives -- a much healthier window within which to pursue.

The did there inequity so that that change -- human heart and I appreciate you coming on the show tonight your book by the way which came out a couple of months ago is grace and -- -- fight for equal pay in fairness of good of a good year and beyond and I thank you so much -- Leadbetter for coming on the program.

I think if I had been and operation is so fair -- thanks so much written.

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