Lilly Ledbetter is known for her significant role in the fight for equal pay in the United States. After discovering she was paid less than her male counterparts at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, she filed a lawsuit that eventually led to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. This legislation made it easier for workers to challenge pay discrimination, extending the time frame for filing complaints. Her story has inspired many in the ongoing struggle for gender equality in the workplace.
Lilly Ledbetter’s journey began in the 1990s when she worked at Goodyear for nearly 20 years. After receiving an anonymous note revealing that her male colleagues were earning significantly more for the same work, she decided to take action. Despite her strong case, the Supreme Court ruled against her in 2007, stating that she had filed her claim too late under existing law.
This setback prompted a renewed focus on pay equity, and Ledbetter became a prominent advocate for change. In 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first piece of legislation he signed into law. The Act allows individuals to file complaints about pay discrimination within 180 days of their last paycheck, rather than from the initial discriminatory act, thus empowering employees to seek justice more effectively.
“Lilly Ledbetter never set out to be a trailblazer or a household name. She just wanted to be paid the same as a man for her hard work. But this grandmother from Alabama kept on fighting until the day I signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law – my first as president. Lilly did what so many Americans before her have done: setting her sights high for herself and even higher for her children and grandchildren. Michelle and I are grateful for her advocacy and her friendship, and we send our love and prayers to her family and everyone who is continuing the fight that she began.” —–President Barack Obama
Statement from the AFL-CIO – “The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations – described her as a hero. “Lilly Ledbetter simply wanted to be paid the same as her male Goodyear coworkers – and her fight took her to the Supreme Court, Congress, and the White House to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. She was a true hero, and we send our deepest condolences to her family.”
Pete Marchese – Director of Operations, Union Built PC – “The fight for fair wages and benefits never ends. Our Sisters and Brothers have fought long and hard and some paid the ultimate sacrifice. RIP Lilly, you fought the good fight and refused to give up. The torch is passed to a whole new generation. This generation will be heard at the voting booth Nov. 5th. For the sake of Labor and our rights, we can only hope that their voices come through loud and clear.”