Latina Equal Pay Day Is a Reminder of the Work We Have to Do for Economic Fairness

On October 5, we recognized Latina Equal Pay Day, marking the symbolic date to which Latinas have to work—almost 22 months—to catch up to what their white, non-Hispanic male co-workers earned in 2022 alone.

Latinas are one of the fastest growing, most powerful groups in the United States. Latinas excel in every sector and industry in our country. Despite all of this, in 2022, Latinas continued to face the pay gap that is, on average nationally, an abysmal 52 cents to every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. This number includes all Latinas with reported earnings, like part-time, seasonal, and migrant workers. For full-time, year-round workers, the wage gap is 57 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. The wage disparity is a clear reflection of the economic hurdles Latinas continue to encounter.

"Unions are the pathway to rectifying this long-standing disparity," said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. "We know that Latina workers in a union make 40% more per week than nonunion Latina workers. This 40% means that these hardworking women can provide for their families and that their pay reflects their value. We also know that occupational segregation still exists in our labor market, and we must continue to work to ensure that Latinas have access to the work opportunities they deserve. The entire labor movement is committed to winning economic justice and parity for all. We will continue to fight for change at the state, local and federal levels, until we close the wage gap."