Comparable Worth Now Law in Washington

OLYMPIA, Wash. —  Gov. Booth Gardner on Tuesday signed legislation giving raises to 35,000 state employees, mostly women in lower-paying jobs, in what was hailed as the nation’s most significant comparable-worth settlement.

“I think it is great that the state of Washington remains on the cutting edge of seeing that we have equality in the workplace,” the governor said.

The agreement, which was prompted by a class-action suit, calls for an initial expenditure of $41.4 million by June 30, 1987. The cost would increase by about $10 million a year after that until full implementation in mid-1992, at a total cost of $482 million.

It has been estimated that it will take another $100 million a year to maintain comparable worth after complete implementation.

The agreement still is subject to approval by U.S. District Judge Jack Tanner, who is presiding over the class-action suit. Tanner has given preliminary approval to the settlement.