For nearly two decades of Equal Pay Days, New Yorkers have rallied together online and in-person to demand an end to pay discrimination. We’ve made progress, but in 2025, a year of unprecedented federal challenges to the rights of women and workers, all that is at risk.
For 2025 Equal Pay Day, PowHer®New York is pushing for stronger laws because despite the equal pay legislation passed in recent years, All New York full-time working women still only earn 87 cents compared to the earnings of all male workers. This unacceptable wage gap is even wider for Black, Latina, Native American women in New York who earn 66¢, 60¢, and 55¢ respectively.
Now more than ever, we all must join the movement to uphold women’s economic equity. This Equal Pay Day, we called on our state and local elected leaders to speak out for equity for women and workers. Here’s what they had to say:
New York Governor Kathy Hochul
NYS Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie
“Throughout history, women have contributed significantly to the economic growth of the great state of New York and the United States as a whole. However, in 2025 women still earn only eighty-seven cents for every dollar earned by men, with this disparity widening with the introduction of race. This wage gap demands continued attention and action. On this Equal Pay Day, we must continue to pursue gender and wage equality for all women.”
NYS Senator Roxanne J. Persaud
NYS Senator Luis R. Sepulveda
NYS Senator John C. Liu
NYS Senator Robert Jackson
NYS Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal
“Right now women in New York only earn 87 cents for every dollar men in New York make. As we mark the 19th annual New York Equal Pay Day, it’s long past time that we realize the goal of this day and establish true pay equity in New York State. In addition to making significant investments in the care economy and care workforce we should pass our bill (S.2481) to require prospective state contractors to disclose data on employee compensation by gender, race, ethnicity, and other relevant data. This bill passed the Senate last year but this session we must get it through both houses of the legislature. I’m grateful to PowHer New York for ringing the alarm on this important issue and I’m looking forward to the day when their Equal Pay Day campaign will no longer be necessary.”
New York Senator Monica R. Martinez
“It’s taken all of 2024 and a quarter of 2025 for women in New York to earn what men did in the last year. A woman’s worth isn’t a percentage of a man’s, yet that’s been the reality of how we’re paid. Women give 100%, and fairness means being paid 100% too.”
New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez
“The progress we’ve made on equal pay didn’t happen by chance — it’s the product of organizing, advocacy, and people refusing to accept less. Still, women in New York are paid just 87 cents for every dollar a man makes — and the gap is even wider for Black, Latina, and Native women. We can’t ignore that, and we can’t let federal rollbacks erase hard-earned gains. This Equal Pay Day, we recommit to closing the gap because fairness, opportunity, and dignity at work should be the standard, not the exception.”
New York State Senator James Skoufis (NY-42)
“Over half a century since the passage of the Equal Pay Act, and there is still so much work to be done. Since the very start of my time in the legislature I have voted in favor of pay equality. Pay equity varies state-to-state, and while New York has one of the highest percentages on average, our work is nowhere near complete. As a New York State Senator, the mandate is clear: equal pay for equal work.”
New York State Senator Lea Webb
“Today, as we observe Equal Pay Day, we stand united in the fight for fairness and equity in the workplace,” said State Senator Lea Webb. “The PowerHer New York Equal Pay Day Initiative is a critical step forward in addressing the gender pay gap that continues to hold women back from achieving their full potential. For far too long, women have been undervalued and underpaid for their work, and this initiative is a bold call to action for businesses, lawmakers, and communities to come together and ensure equal pay for equal work. I am committed to continuing to push for policies that support women at every stage of their careers, empower them to break through the barriers of inequality, and ensure that every woman in New York—no matter their background or occupation—can achieve economic justice.”
New York State Senator Samra G. Brouk (SD-55)
“In the face of federal threats to women, families, and communities, I remain committed to advancing legislation that protects New Yorkers. To this day, women in New York State only make 87 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man earns–and this gap in pay inequity is even wider for women of color. To empower and support women, I fight for worker protections, universal child care, and everyone’s right to access critical health care services. I am proud to stand with PowHerNY to dismantle systemic inequities and reaffirm women’s autonomy in all spaces.”
NYS Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes
“As we move through Women’s History Month, celebrating the incredible accomplishments women have made in the course of history—it is important to remember that throughout the history of this country, women have never been paid on equal grounds as their male counterparts. For doing the exact same job. According to a Pew Research study, women in the United States earn, on average, 85% of what males earn. In the State of New York, women earn 87 cents for every dollar a man earns. The wage disparity is even worse among women of color. This is unacceptable. As the Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly, my colleagues and I are committed to continuing the fight for equal pay across the state. Ending the gender pay gap strengthens families and continues to empower women.”
NYS Assembly Member Alex Bores
NYS Assembly Member Amy Paulin
NYS Assembly Member Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
NYS Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi
“It is unacceptable for women, especially women of color, to continuously suffer from the wage gap in this country. In New York, women earn on average 87 cents to every dollar a man makes, financially holding women back and resulting in nearly $400,000 worth of lost wages over their lifetime, with the disparities for women of color being far greater. For these reasons and more, my colleagues and I are pushing for a $1.2 billion investment for Childcare workers as well as a 7.8% cost of living adjustment for human service sector workers wages. Both the childcare and human services workforce are overwhelmingly female, making up 96% and 66% of their fields, respectively. It is time to make sure these female workers earn wages that are deserving of the critical services they provide for children and those in need statewide.”
NYS Assemblymember Didi Barrett
“It is important now more than ever that we continue to fight for the equality that women and girls deserve,” said Assemblymember Didi Barrett. “Any gender and racial wage disparity is simply unacceptable and we will not allow any backtracking in the progress we have made together. I will continue to stand strong in the fight for #EqualPayNY!”
NYS Assemblymember Jen Lunsford
“The fight for equal pay is more important today than ever. Women are under assault and we need to fight to protect the gains we’ve made, while pushing to improve our station in every sector of the economy. It’s not enough for women to get paid equally for equal work; we must also provide things like high quality and affordable child care, paid maternity leave, reliable transportation systems, and expanded opportunities for women to get into the trades. By tackling workforce issues in a holistic way, we are supporting women and their fight for equal pay and equal opportunities in the workforce. Equal Pay Day isn’t only about a paycheck, it’s about every decision a woman has to make in order to have access to that paycheck.”
NYS Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, Assembly District 39
“On this Equal Pay Day, we must take a stand against the systemic wage gaps that continue to impact our workforce. As the daughter of a single mother who worked tirelessly in underpaid jobs to support our family, I have witnessed firsthand the struggle of women—especially women of color—who are paid significantly less despite their hard work. It is unacceptable that in industries dominated by women, wages remain disproportionately low. As an advocate for economic justice, I am committed to pushing for policies that ensure fair pay and true equality for all workers. Equal Pay Day is a reminder that our fight is not over, and together, we can demand the change our communities deserve.”
NYS Assemblymember Karen McMahon
“This month we celebrate the historic achievements and contributions of women everywhere, but as we mark these highlights, on March 25th we come together and rally for Equal Pay Day in New York State. We’ve made monumental strides in recent years to close the wage gap, but women in NYS still make only 87 cents for every dollar made by a man in the same profession or position. Clearly there is more work to be done, and on Equal Pay Day we highlight the need for pay transparency laws, an investment in the care economy and workforce, and the expansion of paid leave and updates to the temporary disability insurance program. I’m proud that New York has been a nationwide leader in the fight for equal pay and participation in the economy for women and I’m confident we will continue to be an example across the nation.”
New York State Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg
“Equal Pay Day should be December 31. But this year, Equal Pay Day is 13 days later than it was last year – meaning women had to work even longer into this new year to earn what a man earned in 2024. We must continue to promote women’s economic empowerment in a variety of ways, such as bolstering pay transparency, promoting fair pay for care workers, and improving programs like our state’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise certification.”
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams
New York City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala
“We must each do what we can to right the longstanding compensation imbalance between men and women in the labor market. As Deputy Speaker of the New York City Council I am proud to sponsor Local Law Int 0808-2024. The bill clarifies how employers determine the post pay range for a position. Once employed, workers would have the right to receive compensation information for any positions similar to their role. I am proud to support PowHerNY in its fight for pay equity for women on this Equal Pay Day, Standing together has never been more important as we face unprecedented pressure from the Federal government. Join me in supporting the great work of PowHerNY.”
New York City Council Member Julie Menin
“As Chair of the New York City Council’s Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection and as a Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus, I am proud to stand with PowHer®NY in the fight for pay equity. Our women-led City Council is fighting for stronger worker protections that prioritize and promote legislation and policies to ensure economic and gender equity. It is unconscionable that in New York City, women are paid on average 88 cents for every dollar paid to men.”
New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02)
“New York has led the way in advancing pay equity, but the fight is far from over. Women, especially Black, Latina, and Native American women, continue to be undervalued and underpaid for their work. As federal protections face unprecedented threats, we must double down on our commitment to ensuring every woman is paid fairly for the work she does. Equal Pay Day is an important reminder that we must do more to hold employers accountable and ensure women have the same opportunities as men in the workforce.”
New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman
“As a member of the first women majority New York City Council, the issue of equal pay is one near and dear to my heart. New York City has made immense progress thus far, but the protections we have put in place need to advance even further. Now more than ever, it is crucial for us to speak up and fight against discrimination efforts and lack of transparency in the workforce. We need pathways to higher paying jobs and we must work together to close the gap and end pay inequality once and for all. I am dedicated to continuing the fight for equality and democratic rights on behalf of all women in New York City.”
New York City Council Member Rita Joseph
“As a mother, educator, and advocate for fairness, I know firsthand that when women are paid fairly, it’s not just about closing the wage gap it’s about building a stronger, more equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Equal pay ensures that families have the resources they need to thrive, allowing parents to provide better educational opportunities, secure quality healthcare, and create more stable homes. When women are compensated fairly for their contributions in the workforce, it strengthens not only individual households but also the broader economy by reducing poverty, boosting consumer spending, and fostering greater financial security. Communities become more resilient, children grow up with more opportunities, and future generations are empowered to dream bigger. Pay equity is not just a women’s issue it’s an issue that affects us all. When we invest in fair wages and ensure that women’s work is valued and compensated appropriately, we are investing in a future where everyone thrives, and our society as a whole becomes stronger, more prosperous, and more just.”
New York City Council Member Alexa Avilés
“Our fight for workers’ rights cannot be disentangled from our fight for both racial and gender equity. Women still earn 87 cents for every dollar a man makes–that is an unacceptable gap that leaves women disenfranchised in our society as a whole. That difference is even starker when you compare the wages of women of color to man counterparts. I’m participating in Equal Pay Day because we need to repair the wage gap in New York while building social services that break barriers to women participating in the workforce.”
New York City Council Member and LGBTQIA+ Caucus Chair Tiffany Cabán
“Everyone deserves to be paid fairly for their labor. That’s why I introduced a law that will require the largest employers (with 100+ employees) in the city to report anonymous data on pay and demographic information. This is a bold step toward wage transparency. It is especially important as the Trump administration is dismantling the anti-discrimination protections in Federal agencies.
The cutting edge data collection provided for by this bill, which is already being done in the UK and parts of the European Union, will generate crucial information for identifying patterns of inequality and ensuring that large employers are held accountable. The ripple effects of this will be profound. I am proud to be sponsoring this legislation alongside Majority Leader Amanda Farías and Majority Whip Selvena Brooks-Powers.
This Equal Pay Day, I’m proud to support PowHer NY in their fight for pay equity and transparency, and am deeply grateful for their support of Introductions 982 and 984. Together we can achieve pay equity for all New Yorkers.”
New York City Council Member Kevin C. Riley
“Equal Pay Day isn’t just a reminder—it’s a call to action. Year after year, we talk about the wage gap, but we aren’t taking big enough steps to close it,” said New York City Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “Women, especially women of color, continue to be underpaid for their work, and that injustice stops with policies that demand transparency, accountability, and fairness. I stand with PowHer® NY to fight for stronger worker protections, enforce salary transparency, and close loopholes that allow employers to sidestep equity. As Council Member, Co-Chair of the Black, Latino & Asian Caucus, and most importantly, a proud girl dad, I’m committed to making sure every woman is paid what she rightfully deserves.”
Want to speak out for pay equity? Send a quote/video statement to info@powherny.org.