Businesswomen Mark National Equal Pay Day with 11th Annual "Unhappy Hour"

Online, March 9, 2014 (Newswire.com) - WHAT: To recognize National Equal Pay Day and to raise awareness of pay equity and wage discrimination, Business and Professional Women (BPW)/St. Petersburg-Pinellas will hold its 11th annual "Unhappy Hour" on April 8, the day the average woman in the United States finally earns the same amount of pay that her male counterpart earned in the previous year. According to the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau, the average woman is paid 77 cents for every dollar a man is paid, reflecting a gap that results in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost wages. Therefore, if a man were paid $50,000 to perform his job from January 1 through December 31, it will take a woman in the same position, on average, from January 1 through April 8 of the following year to earn the same amount.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 8, 2014, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Morean Arts Center, 719 Central Ave, St. Petersburg

COST:
The public is invited to attend this free event. No RSVP is necessary. Light appetizers and a cash bar will be available. For more information, visit www.bpwstpetepinellas.org.

ABOUT:
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, when the Equal Pay Act was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, women were earning an average of 59 cents on the dollar compared to men. While women hold nearly half of today's jobs, and their earnings account for a significant portion of the household income that sustains the financial well-being of their families, they are still experiencing a gap in pay compared to men's wages for similar work. For African American women and Latinas, the pay gap is even greater. African American women average only 64 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men and Hispanic women are typically paid only 54 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men.

About Business and Professional Women (BPW)/St. Petersburg-Pinellas
BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas is the local chapter of BPW/Florida, which is affiliated with the national BPW Foundation. Founded in 1919 at the national and state levels, and in 1966 at the local level, BPW crosses generations, occupations and political parties. BPW's mission is to achieve equity for all women in the workplace through advocacy, education and information. General membership meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 400 Beach Drive Seafood and Tap House in Downtown St. Petersburg. www.bpwstpetepinellas.org

Signature activities for 2013-2014 include the Young Careerist and Individual Development programs, the Equality Day Tea in August, the Working Women's Fall Forum in October, and Unhappy Hour observing Equal Pay Day in April 2014. The 2013-2014 President is Gretta Paige Bellas, paralegal for Kira Doyle Law.