OLYMPIA – The Equal Pay Opportunity Act, Senate Bill 5630, today was introduced in the Washington State Senate and referred to the committee on Commerce and Labor. Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, issued the following statement:

“I am proud that we are moving forward with this bill for the women of Washington State. This is an issue that women have raised for many decades. I am pleased to join this effort on behalf of future generations of workers.

“We all ought to share the value of creating healthy, economically viable communities where individuals and families can succeed and thrive. Women in our state should have the ability to know that they are not being paid less than their male counterparts, and the ability to ask questions at work without retaliation.

“In the coming days I hope the bill will be heard by the Republican majority. This issue shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but one that supports the ideal that equal work should amount to equal pay.”