The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

October 1985: Volume 1, Number 2

Pay Equity In Federal Civil Service

The Federal Equitable Pay Practices Act of 1985 (H.R. 3008), introduced by Rep. Mary Rose Oakar (D-OH.) on July 16, 1985, would mandate a study of federal wage-setting practices in order to identify and eliminate discrimination and promote pay equity in the Federal Government. Specifically, the Act provides for the establishment of an 11 member, bipartisan commission which would oversee the examination of the federal pay and job classification systems to determine consistency with Title VII (employment discrimination) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The study would review the job content of various occupations on the basis of skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions. The study would also analyze how human capital factors such as education, seniority, merit and locality contribute to rates of pay. At the end of the 18-month project, the Commission would provide recommendations for the elimination of any discriminatory practices and improvement o f the pay and classifications systems of the Federal Government. H.R. 3008 was approved by the House on October 9 by a vote of 259 to 162.

A companion bill, S. 519, was introduced by Senator Daniel Evans (R-WA.) on February 27, 1985 and referred to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. Hearings were held by the Subcommittee on Civil Service, Post Office and General Services, but no action has been taken on the bill.