Lilly Ledbetter, whose name graces an equal pay law in the US, has died aged 86.news partner in the US, quoted her children as saying she died peacefully on Saturday surrounded by family and loved ones.
“Our mother lived an extraordinary life,” added a family statement.
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Lilly Ledbetter Dies
Ms Ledbetter’s activism led to the first bill signed into law by Barack Obama after he became US president in 2009.The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act made it easier for workers to sue after discovering they were being discriminated through pay.
Mr Obama said that the law sent the message “that there are no second-class citizens in our workplaces”. President Biden, who was vice-president during the Obama administration, described Ms Ledbetter as a “fearless leader and advocate for equal pay”. He paid tribute, saying “her fight began on the factory floor and reached the Supreme Court and Congress” and she “never stopped fighting for all Americans to be paid what they deserve”.
“Before she was a household name, Lilly was like so many other women in the workforce: she worked hard, with dignity, only to find out she was being paid less than a man for the same work.”
Biden added it was “an honour to stand with Lilly as the bill that bears her name was made law”, describing the Fair Pay Restoration Act as a “critical step forward in the fight to close the gender and racial wage gaps”.
Ms Ledbetter worked as a supervisor for Goodyear, the tyre manufacturer, in Alabama for nearly 20 years before discovering she was being paid less than men doing the same job. The Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that she had no grounds to sue because her complaint had not been lodged within six months of the discrimination first taking place. Her law overturned that ruling.
The former president paid tribute on Twitter/X, saying Ms 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”. “Lilly did what so many Americans before her have done: setting her sights high for herself and even higher for her children and grandchildren,” Mr Obama said. MS Ledbetter continued her advocacy after the law was signed.
She received the Future Is Female Lifetime Achievement Award from Advertising Week last week, according to the Alabama news site AL.com. A new film about her life, called Lilly and starring Patricia Clarkson, has recently been shown at the Hamptons International Film Festival.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Rather than retreating, Ledbetter channeled her frustration into action, becoming a national advocate for equal pay. Her name soon became synonymous with the struggle for wage equality, as her case garnered widespread attention and support from lawmakers and activists.
In 2009, just days after taking office, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law. The legislation extended the time period for workers to file pay discrimination claims, allowing them to seek justice for wage inequities discovered long after the original discriminatory decision had been made.
In a moving ceremony at the White House, Ledbetter stood by the president’s side as he declared, “Lilly didn’t set out to be a trailblazer or a household name — she was just a good, hard worker who did her job and looked out for her family. If we hadn’t had her courage, her grace, and her determination, this day might not have come.”
The law has since become a cornerstone of equal pay advocacy and continues to empower workers to fight for fair treatment in the workplace.
A Legacy of Advocacy
Ledbetter’s journey from the factory floor to the halls of Congress made her an enduring symbol of the broader struggle for workplace equality. Her personal story resonated with countless women who had experienced similar inequities but lacked the platform to speak out. She traveled across the country to share her story, inspire others, and push for greater legal protections against gender-based pay discrimination.
“Lilly Ledbetter never gave up the fight, even when the odds were stacked against her,” said former President Obama in a statement. “Her spirit and her determination have given millions of women a voice, and her legacy will live on in every paycheck that is just a little bit fairer because of her courage.”
In her later years, Ledbetter remained a passionate advocate, working with organizations like the National Women’s Law Center and the American Association of University Women to continue the push for equal pay. She also published a memoir, Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond, which detailed her personal struggles and victories.
Ledbetter’s contributions to the equal pay movement earned her numerous accolades, including honorary degrees and awards from civil rights organizations. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2011.
Tributes and Reflections
Upon news of her passing, tributes from political leaders, activists, and everyday citizens flooded social media. Vice President Kamala Harris tweeted, “Lilly Ledbetter was a force for justice. She refused to accept the status quo and fought for what was right. Her fight for equal pay changed the lives of millions of women and workers. Rest in power, Lilly.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also offered her condolences, stating, “Lilly Ledbetter’s legacy is one of courage, compassion, and unyielding dedication to equality. Her work transcends generations and will continue to inspire the next wave of leaders in the fight for fairness.”
Ledbetter is survived by her two children and several grandchildren. Her family released a statement, saying, “We are heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Lilly, but we find comfort in knowing that her legacy of fairness and justice will live on in the millions of lives she touched.”
As the nation reflects on the life of Lilly Ledbetter, her work serves as a reminder that the fight for equal pay is far from over. Her relentless advocacy has inspired countless others to pick up the torch and continue the march toward workplace equality, ensuring that her legacy will continue to shape the future for generations to come.
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