RELEASE: Treasurer Goldberg Hosts Regional Wage Equality Roundtable in Lowell

State Treasurer Deb Goldberg and her statewide Advisory Committee on Wage Equality will host a panel discussion this afternoon at UMass Lowell. They will collaborate with business and thought leaders from across the Merrimack Valley region to explore and develop best practices to close the wage gap.

“Wage equality is an imperative to the economic stability of our state” said Treasurer Deb Goldberg. “These regional roundtables enable regional stakeholders to develop strategies for closing the wage gap across the many industries in the Commonwealth.”

 “I congratulate Treasurer Goldberg on her commitment to addressing wage equality in Massachusetts,” said Jacquie Moloney, Chancellor of UMass Lowell. “The creation of the Office of Economic Empowerment and the statewide Advisory Committee on Wage Equality will provide important tools for employers that are committed to closing the pay gap. I am pleased to participate in this roundtable discussion and I look forward to the development of best practices in this area.”

Today’s discussion will be the final event in a series of five regional roundtables, where the Treasurer and her Advisory Committee solicit input on closing the wage gap from business leaders, academics, and employees. The Committee will then use this data to develop a wage equality tool kit for businesses and organizations.

The panel will include Gail Brown, Director of the Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board, Joe Hungler, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, Bopha Malone, Branch Relationship Manager of Enterprise Bank, Danielle McFadden, President & CEO of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, Jacqueline Moloney, Chancellor of UMass Lowell, and Patricia Parcellin, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Eastern MA.

In March Treasurer Goldberg announced the creation of a new statewide Advisory Committee on Wage Equality, focused on helping both government agencies and private employers to review their pay structure and put a clearer focus on pay equity in hiring decisions and salary offers. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, a leader on wage equality through his Women’s Workforce Council, serves as the honorary chair of the committee.