NEW ORLEANS - District "D" Councilmember Jared Brossett served as a panelist at last week's Women United Pay Equity discussion hosted by the United Way of Southeast Louisiana at Ralph's on the Park. Councilmember Brossett joined fellow advocates Terrell Boynton, Director & General Manager of the New Orleans Digital Transformation Center at DXC Technology; Ava Dejoie, Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission; and Joseph Exnicios, Senior Executive Vice President and President of Hancock Whitney, to discuss his ongoing commitment to ending the gender pay gap in Louisiana, which remains the worst in the country.

Throughout his career, Councilmember Brossett has fought against pay discrimination as one of his utmost priorities. In 2013, then State Representative Brossett co-authored Act 374, which created the "Equal Pay for Women Act." In 2015, he authored, and the Council passed the first living wage law in the history of New Orleans. Earlier this year, Councilmember Brossett authored, and the Council unanimously approved Ordinance 32,531 establishing the Equal Pay Advisory Committee to provide guidance and advise the Council on how best to remedy the citywide consequences of wage disparity.

"As both a state legislator and member of the New Orleans City Council, I have

fought to ensure that all New Orleanians are provided equal opportunities to grow and become financially successful," said Councilmember Brossett. "A woman doesn't ask for less on purpose. Part of the problem is that wage data is largely kept secret in America, so women and minorities can be underpaid without knowing it. Employers frequently have policies that forbid workers from discussing their salaries, even though these policies are unfair and sometimes unlawful. I will continue to hold myself, my colleagues, and all government officials at the local, state and federal levels accountable by demanding action on this issue. Only together, can we hope to finally end the gender pay gap once and for all."

The distinguished group of panelists lent their voices and credibility to reaffirm to the respected business and nonprofit leaders in the room that, as partners, New Orleans is on the right path to building a better, stronger Southeast Louisiana.

For more information on the United Way of Southeast Louisiana and its work to address pay inequity, visit www.unitedwaysela.org.

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Contact:

Domonique Dickerson
Chief of Staff
Councilmember Jared C. Brossett, Chair of Budget/Audit/BoR Committee
504-658-1040
dcdickerson@nola.gov