--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can afford to pay workers fairly, and…" description: "\"We can afford to pay workers fairly, and it is the right thing to do. We also need equal pay for equal work.\" — Jan Schakowsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/jan-schakowsky-3618_equal-pay_we-can-afford-to-pay-workers-fairly-and_1311641.png" --- # We can afford to pay workers fairly, and it is the right… ![“We can afford to pay workers fairly, and it is the right thing to do. We also need equal pay for equal work.” quote by Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/jan-schakowsky-3618_equal-pay_we-can-afford-to-pay-workers-fairly-and_1311641.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/jan-schakowsky-3618_equal-pay_we-can-afford-to-pay-workers-fairly-and_1311641.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a5/jan-schakowsky-3618_equal-pay_we-can-afford-to-pay-workers-fairly-and_1311641.png) > “We can afford to pay workers fairly, and it is the right thing to do. We also need equal pay for equal work.” [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fair wages are both ethical and feasible; society should ensure equal pay for equal work **In simple terms:** Pay workers fairly is right and doable Key Takeaway Advocate for policies that enforce wage equity Themes justice economics fairness policy equality Mood determined urgent optimistic Type political advocacy When to use this quote - workplace negotiations - budget planning - union organizing Key Concepts living wage gender pay gap labor law Questions to Reflect On - What incentives can motivate employers to adopt fair pay? - How can workers collectively demand wage equality? A Different Perspective Implementation may face political resistance and budget constraints ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Equal pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-pay/) [Equal Pay For Equal Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-pay-for-equal-work/) [Equal Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-work/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pay Equal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-equal/) [Pay Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-workers-1053286/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) [The right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-right-thing/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Workers Fairly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workers-fairly-4341620/) ## Related quotes > [Making sure women get equal pay for equal work remains one of my top priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/making-sure-women-get-equal-pay-for-equal-work-remains-one-of-my-top/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [We've all heard the phrase 'equal pay for equal work.' Many of those who habitually repeat this mantra may not realize that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/we-ve-all-heard-the-phrase-equal-pay-for-equal-work-many-of-those-who/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [“Yeah, equal pay for equal work and our bodies ourselves and Gloria Steinem and all that jazz...but in that dusty dark little corner of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/yeah-equal-pay-for-equal-work-and-our-bodies-ourselves-and-gloria/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [Politicians talk about wage equality, but my father has made it a practice at his company throughout his entire career. He will fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivanka-trump/politicians-talk-about-wage-equality-but-my-father-has-made-it-a/) [Ivanka Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivanka-trump/) > [Legislation to apply the principle of equal pay for equal work without discrimination because of sex is a matter of simple justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/legislation-to-apply-the-principle-of-equal-pay-for-equal-work/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Enable every woman who can work to take her place on the labour front, under the principle of equal pay for equal work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/enable-every-woman-who-can-work-to-take-her-place-on-the-labour-front/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Equal pay for equal work isn't, 'Here, I'll give this to you.' It's confidence, it's participation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-murphy/equal-pay-for-equal-work-isn-t-here-i-ll-give-this-to-you-it-s/) [Phil Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-murphy/) > [Equal pay for equal work continues to be seen as applying to equal pay for men and women in the same occupation, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-s-rossi/equal-pay-for-equal-work-continues-to-be-seen-as-applying-to-equal/) [Alice S Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-s-rossi/) > [Equal pay for equal work is a fundamental concept of labor agreements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-carteris/equal-pay-for-equal-work-is-a-fundamental-concept-of-labor-agreements/) [Gabrielle Carteris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-carteris/) > [9 to 5 made people aware of equal pay for equal work. It hasn't really happened, but it has come closer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-tomlin/9-to-5-made-people-aware-of-equal-pay-for-equal-work-it-hasn-t-really/) [Lily Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-tomlin/) > [I believe in equal pay for equal work. Gender, race, skin colour, or ethnicity should not be the parameters to hire someone or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-believe-in-equal-pay-for-equal-work-gender-race-skin-colour-or/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [I believe men and women should get equal pay for equal work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/i-believe-men-and-women-should-get-equal-pay-for-equal-work/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [Women should earn equal pay for equal work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/women-should-earn-equal-pay-for-equal-work/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The raw wage gap number is not a measure of equal pay for equal work. It is a comparison of averages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/the-raw-wage-gap-number-is-not-a-measure-of-equal-pay-for-equal-work/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Women deserve equal pay for equal work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/women-deserve-equal-pay-for-equal-work/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Jan Schakowsky > [The truth matters, and despite my objection to the creation of the Select Panel, as its Ranking Member, I will do all I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-truth-matters-and-despite-my-objection-to-the-creation-of-the/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Simply raising fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks to 33 miles per gallon would eliminate our oil imports from the Persian Gulf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/simply-raising-fuel-economy-standards-for-passenger-cars-and-light/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Fast track is about pushing through the TPP, TTIP and future trade agreements that would massively increase the power of big international corporations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/fast-track-is-about-pushing-through-the-tpp-ttip-and-future-trade/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [In conflict zones in particular, we need personnel who wear the badge of the United States, are a part of our official military command,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/in-conflict-zones-in-particular-we-need-personnel-who-wear-the-badge/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Republicans who oppose Obamacare have a responsibility to show that they can do better - not return us to the days when insurance companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/republicans-who-oppose-obamacare-have-a-responsibility-to-show-that/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [The JCPOA is working - preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. It's time for the Republicans to start working, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-jcpoa-is-working-preventing-iran-from-developing-a-nuclear-weapon/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Every year, Planned Parenthood serves three million Americans - men and women - and one in five women will receive care at a Planned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/every-year-planned-parenthood-serves-three-million-americans-men-and/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [President Obama's executive actions on immigration are designed to temporarily address major flaws in our broken immigration system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/president-obama-s-executive-actions-on-immigration-are-designed-to/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Democrats stand ready and willing to work with President Trump to improve upon the ACA - but we will not sit by and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/democrats-stand-ready-and-willing-to-work-with-president-trump-to/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [And we've also had now the speaker of the Parliament in Iraq using blatantly anti-Semitic remarks, saying the Jews and sons of Jews are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/and-we-ve-also-had-now-the-speaker-of-the-parliament-in-iraq-using/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Immigration reform is for those thousands of people in my district and the millions of people across the country who want nothing more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/immigration-reform-is-for-those-thousands-of-people-in-my-district/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Every American must be guaranteed dignity and independence in their retirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/every-american-must-be-guaranteed-dignity-and-independence-in-their/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [The rise of franchising, contracting, and other similar employment practices has made it harder to enforce worker protections like minimum wages, overtime pay, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-rise-of-franchising-contracting-and-other-similar-employment/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [I will continue to do all that I can to ensure and enhance worker protections, including the right to bargain collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/i-will-continue-to-do-all-that-i-can-to-ensure-and-enhance-worker/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Memorial Day is all about celebrating the lives of the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/memorial-day-is-all-about-celebrating-the-lives-of-the-men-and-women/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) [Explore all 126 Jan Schakowsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) ## More Equal pay quotes > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [Being a woman, we talk about equal pay all the time. We're not talking about if you're black or if you are Latina. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/being-a-woman-we-talk-about-equal-pay-all-the-time-we-re-not-talking/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [Ultimately, we need to grow the women's game. That's the biggest issue; it always has been. Then you can talk about equal pay and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-kirby/ultimately-we-need-to-grow-the-women-s-game-that-s-the-biggest-issue/) [Fran Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-kirby/) > [The more I've been able to learn about gay rights and equal pay and gender equity and racial inequality, the more that it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-rapinoe/the-more-i-ve-been-able-to-learn-about-gay-rights-and-equal-pay-and/) [Megan Rapinoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-rapinoe/) > [It's amazing to me that, in the 42 years since President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, women today still receive fewer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-honda/it-s-amazing-to-me-that-in-the-42-years-since-president-kennedy/) [Mike Honda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-honda/) > [Women deserve equal pay for equal work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/women-deserve-equal-pay-for-equal-work/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [I can walk into meetings now and ask for equal pay, and the people will listen to me. They may not give it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-riseborough/i-can-walk-into-meetings-now-and-ask-for-equal-pay-and-the-people/) [Andrea Riseborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-riseborough/) > [The lower the family income, the higher the probability that the mother must work. Today, 1 out of 5 of these working mothers has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-lower-the-family-income-the-higher-the-probability-that-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [If you say, I'm for equal pay, that's a reform. But if you say. I'm a feminist, that's a transformation of society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/if-you-say-i-m-for-equal-pay-that-s-a-reform-but-if-you-say-i-m-a/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [“They are boiling with the pressured energy of explosive forces confined in a small space, and with the fervor of all religious movements in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/they-are-boiling-with-the-pressured-energy-of-explosive-forces/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Sure we girls can wear pants now, and vote, and go to college, have a bank account, get a job that is not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-castellucci/sure-we-girls-can-wear-pants-now-and-vote-and-go-to-college-have-a/) [Cecil Castellucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-castellucci/) > [The raw wage gap number is not a measure of equal pay for equal work. It is a comparison of averages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/the-raw-wage-gap-number-is-not-a-measure-of-equal-pay-for-equal-work/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [President Obama is also standing up for women in North Carolina and across our country. He has helped women fight for equal pay for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bev-perdue/president-obama-is-also-standing-up-for-women-in-north-carolina-and/) [Bev Perdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bev-perdue/) > [I don't mind women's football. I am of the business understanding though, when people say 'it should be equal pay.' If the business makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-deeney/i-don-t-mind-women-s-football-i-am-of-the-business-understanding/) [Troy Deeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-deeney/) [Browse all 215 Equal pay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equal-pay/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We can afford to pay workers fairly, and it is the right thing to do. 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