Governor Bullock Recognizes Women’s Equality Day by Extending Montana’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force Through 2022

• August 26 2020

HELENA – Governor Steve Bullock today, in recognition of Women’s Equality Day, renewed his equal pay Executive Order and extended the Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force through 2022 to continue its work to narrow the wage gap.

“Every person in Montana has a stake in ensuring women and men are paid a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work,” Governor Bullock said. “The actions and advocacy of the Task Force continue to move the needle toward progress and an economy that works for all Montanans. It’s an honor to recognize Women’s Equality Day in Montana by extending the Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force for the next two years. Just as Women’s Equality Day recognizes tremendous progress, we also know our work isn’t yet done.”

Governor Bullock was joined by several members of his Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force at the iconic women’s mural in Helena to make the announcement. Governor Bullock first created Montana’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force in 2013 to bring together business, education, tribal, nonprofit, labor and government leaders to raise awareness of and take steps to narrow Montana’s gender wage gap. Since launching in 2013, the gap between what men and women earn has narrowed from 67 percent to 73.2 percent.

In its seven years, the task force has led pay audits in state government to identify women who are underemployed and address and overcome unconscious gender bias. Additionally, 40 state employees were trained to provide Wage Smart wage negotiation trainings to ensure women have the tools to negotiate for a competitive salary. The task force has also encouraged hundreds of businesses to sign a pledge to support closing the gender wage gap and created a toolkit for wage equity best practices for businesses to utilize.

The task force has also successfully supported legislation, including a bill to remove barriers for survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking to get unemployment benefits. Other legislation introduced to shrink the wage gap, such as bills to provide paycheck protection and ensure pay transparency, were unsuccessful.

To further raise awareness of economic equity, the Task Force has created a virtual audio exhibit featuring four women in Montana succeeding in leadership-roles in male-dominated industries. The exhibit photos show 26.8 percent of the image removed to represent the 26.8 percent wage gap women in Montana experience. The photos include audio stories from Blackfeet Nation fashion designer Belinda Bullshoe, Northern Rockies Medical Center CEO Cheri Taylor, DNRC forestry specialist and former hotshot Ali Ulwelling, and software project manager and First Lady of Montana Lisa Bullock. The exhibit can be found online at EQUALPAY.MT.GOV.

Governor Bullock’s Executive Order extending the Equal Pay for Equal Work Task Force is available here. The following individuals will serve on the Task Force until 2022:

• Co-Chair Tara Rice, Montana Department of Commerce Director
• Co-Chair Brenda Nordlund, Montana Department of Labor & Industry Commissioner
• Jamie Palagi, Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services Division Administator, Helena      
• Jen Euell, Director, Women's Foundation of Montana, Missoula
• Representative Laurie Bishop, Livingston
• Senator Diane Sands, Missoula
• Paddy Fleming, Director, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, Bozeman
• Carole Lankford, Councilmember, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes, Pablo
• Tracy McIntyre, Executive Director, Montana Cooperative Development Center, Great Falls
• Kelly Webster, Chief of Staff, University of Montana, Missoula
• Lauren Caldwell, Montana Federation of Public Employees, Political Director & Student Program Coordinator, Helena
• Jen Perry, Jelt Belt, Owner, Bozeman
• Lilly Corning, Corning Companies, Realtor, Billings
• John Cummings, Anderson Zurmuehlen & Co., Human Resources Director, Helena

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