Take the case of Ontario, Canada, which has had government wage guidelines since 1988. Last summer Bell Canada was faced with large claims from telephone operators, who sued to be paid the same amount as technicians. The company paid the claims, but contracted with Excell Global Services of Arizona to provide any future expansion of operator services. Thus, while Canadian operators have higher wages, any future jobs will come to the United States. The 75-cents wage gap story is fiction.
Women really do bring home four paychecks a month.
A version of this article appeared in the Washington Post on January 31, 2000. Click here for an index of On the Issues .