The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-11-20
WOMEN FIGHT
FOR EQUAL PAY
AS TEACHERS

Concerted efforts to secure
equalization Of the teachers
pay schedule are expected to
start here within the next
few days as the result of
growing sentiment on the
current inequality and the
endorsement voted or plan
ned by numerous organiza-
tons of the city. The pro-
posal to change the pay rates
that women teachers will re-
ceive the same compensation
as men who have similar
qualifications and duties has
been publicly approved to
date by the Democratic
Women's Booster Club, the
American Association of Uni
versity Women, and the
Bunker Hill Literary Club.
Although the board of education
by a 6 to vote rejected the pro-
posal this week leaders of the move
ment point out the battle is not over
because the final budget for 1943
has not yet been approved and
changes can yet be made. Educa-
ton commissioners expressed ap-
prevail of the theory of equalization
but accepted a committee report
which stated increases in pay at this
time would create budgetary prob
lem.
A special meeting of the board has
been requested by women teachers,
it was learned today, but so far the
petition has not brought results, it
was reported. The board which is
unwilling to grant the increases,
which would involve an expenditure
of approximately $4,000, is said
likewise to be unwilling to renew
discussion of the subject, which 1t
considers a closed matter.
A check today revealed the pro-
posal received its start June % when
the inequalities were pointed out by
Commissioner Anna Hadden and the
matter was referred to the board
teachers committee for study. De-
spite repeated requests for a re-
port on the assigned investigation
by proponents of equalization no re-
port was Forthcoming until last Mon
day night, Nov IS, nearly five
months after the original discus
sion. The 'lateneSs" of the proposal
was one of the arguments advanced
last Monday by several commission
erS
Representatives selected by women
teachers are reported to be con-
Quoting extensive investigation of the
situation and it is believed the fight
will be taken before other author
tiles if the board declines to hear
them.
Approximately So teachers would
benefit from revision in the sched-
ule termed by several sources as
Anticipated" and "a relic of the
past" 1t is pointed out that the
differentiation is based p rely on
the factor of sex and that no other
argument or difference in pay has
ever been advanced.
The Booster club endorsed the
proposal June 20, the day after it
was made. The A. A. U. w. voted
its approval this week, and the Lit
erary organization registered its sup
port at a meeting last night. Various
women's organizations of the city
and other civic and social groups
are reported to be planning discus
sions of the situation.
II has been pointed out women
teachers who are heads of their de-
partments in several instances are
receiving less pay than men under
them even though tie qualifica-
tions are the same, the duties are
similar and the length of service
of the women may be greater.
The argument that men teachers
may be married has been advanced
by several commissioner, but it has
been countered with the fact that
many women teachers have Deepen
dants to support. No other reason
~ Justify the difference has been
even, and the board indicated the
n1iiy reason why it would not &C
seaS the proposal was based on
NuGgetary considerations.