Lilly Ledbetter was a supervisor at Goodyear Tire and Rubber’s plant in Gadsden, Alabama, from 1979 until her retirement in 1998.
Men in her plant doing similar work, were paid 15 to 40 percent more.
When she learned about the discrimination she filed suit and was awarded more than $3 million by a jury BUT in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court threw out the case, ruling that she should have filed her suit within 180 days of the date that Goodyear first paid her less than her peers

http://www.now.org/issues/economic/070530equalpay.html

Soon women organizations, trade unionists, human rights activists and and progresive politicians start to fight for a new bill which will protect employees from discrimination in workplaces
Speaker Pelosi and Reps. Miller and DeLauro Join Lilly Ledbetter and Civil Rights Leaders to Urge Support on Equal Pay Bills
http://www.civilrights.org/press/2009/ledbetter.html

On a vote of 250-177, the House of Representatives passed the bill (The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act), which sailed through the Senate 61-36.
Under the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act, victims of pay-based discrimination will now have the right to file a complaint to the government within 180 days of their most recent paycheck, as opposed to within 180 days of their first unfair paycheck.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE50Q77Z20090127

The Ledbetter Act was the first bill signed into law by Obama.
"There are no second-class citizens in our workplaces and that it's not just unfair and illegal - but bad for business - to pay someone less because of their gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion or disability." said Obama
The new measure also applies to those who seek redress for pay discrimination based on race, religion, disability or age.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/30/obama-lilly-ledbetter-equal-pay

In Australia the victims of discrimination must claim their rights WITHIN 6 months of the day the discrimination occurred instead of 6 months from the last payment.
Unfortunatle we are not ready to fight against the discrimination in workplaces.
Americans show us the way to find our rights in workplaces but we do not care very much for women's, and minority's rights.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

A good outcome and good reporting AS a good story and fair outcome too.
But with it you wipe out years decades in fact of the Australian union movement/ labor movements fight for equality and fairness.
We you say have done nothing?, it is true the union movement no longer has the power it once had but it fights still.
It is true that battles today are less noisy than some from the past.
I am aware you, and of others who think my more conservative, openly anti extremist , or even very left views are a weakness.
Not true, unions are still working to undo the damage of radicals, to service members who long ago found they have little in common with true left ideals.
Australians can be proud of past generations of unionists gains and fights won even lost and assured of future ones.
look closely at the workchoices fight, we won , look at the history of the ACTU and the quality of its leadership team.
Look into the leadership roll some of our biggest unions young, extremely so, leaders and know we are in safe hands.
I do know your heart, its a good one but plowing these fields[ Australia] for a socialist utopia is a waste of effort.
Complements on the standard of your post cut and paste?

Belly
When I say "we are not ready" I mean to change the law from within 6 months from the day the discrimination occurred TO 6 months from the last payment.
When I said "Americans show us the way to find our rights in workplaces but we do not care very much for women's, and minority's rights" YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I speak for the last 3-4 months, the law signed from OBAMA.
Of cause I try to press a little bit! Is this bad. I am interested to change the law, to follow the Americans, they did a dood job about discrimination in workplaces and we should follow them IMMEDIATLY!
Belly if you thing that we are ready to fight LET'S PROVE IT, LET'S START A CAMPANE TO CHANGE THE LAW.
Not only words, I prefer acts!
Americans althought they are more conservatives they changed the law about the discrimination in workplaces.
It is time for changes in Australia too..
I am ready to fight for it!
Are you? If yes, have got any specific suggestions?
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Dear Antonios,

In this country I think that we have the best
working conditions in the world. ( That's probably why
so many people want to come here).

Australia has Federal and State industrial laws, which
set minimum standards for employment. The Workplace
Relations Act 1996, is the main Federal law covering
workplaces in Australia. It includes maternity and
parental leave, equal pay for equal work, generally provides
for minimum wages, annual and sick leave and so forth.

There are State Anti-Discrimination laws already in place
(vary from State to State) they generally are
based on the ground of - age, gender, race, religion, et
cetera. We also have Occupational Health & Safety Laws
that provide a Safe and Working environment.

Compared to other countries - especially
the US - Australia's working conditions are very good
indeed.

@Foxy
What do you say?
I can not recognize you!
How a women can know that the man who do the same work with her takes more money from her?
If she learned it late she can not claim her rights, only for the last six months.
Do you know how big is the discrimination in workplaces and how many victims claim their rights?
Do not you that many Australian women paid less from the men for the same work? why they do not claim their rights?
THEY DO NOT CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW THE PAYMENT FROM THE MEN OR MAINLY BECAUSE THEY AFRAID IF THEY CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS THEY WILL LOSE THEIR JOB!
Do not forget that Australia comes first in part time and casual works, where OF CAUSE are working mainly women. They do not have big choices and shut up their mouth.
If we change the law and instead of within 6 months from the time the discrimination occurred we have six months from the last payment THEN ALL WOMEN, AT THE END, WHEN THEY WILL NOT NEED AND SCARE FROM THE EMPLOYER THEY WILL CLAIM THEIR RIGHTS IN THE COURT.
If employers knew, as in America, that they will pay hard if they discriminate against any employee, then they will care to be ok, according to the law.
Foxy, as you found last time I keep a distance from you and others because I started to believe that you are not free to say and do what you want.
I AM FREE I need little time for family reasons but I will fight... I am sure most people are honest and they understand me and many of them will agree that we have to change the law to protect employees from discrimination in worcplaces, as AMERICANS did , even republicans suported this law.
I understand some will speak for a socialist step and other rubish things, but I do not think they will convince many people that democrats or some republicans are socialists.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Dear Antonios,

I lived and worked in the United States for over nine
and a half years. And there is no comparison to
living and working in Australia. Not only are we
better skilled in this country (more of a generalist
education and training - rather than the extreme
specialisation that goes on in the US), but our
general benefits are far superior. For example, in the
US - after the first year of working with a company -
you got one week's annual leave, and five days sick
leave. After working for two to ten years - you get
two weeks leave and five days sick leave. And after ten
years of working for the company - you got four weeks
long service leave. Compare this to Australian
conditions.

In Australia there are minimum wages set by the Government.
Then there are wage awards for various trades, for job
classifications in Federal, State, and Local Governments.

The trend today is to negotiate with the employer an
acceptable wage - based on the job description and
qualifications required.

For some people - the less negotiated, the longer guarantee
of employment.

I hope this makes sense.