The fight for pay equity is part of the evolving American sense of what is fair and equitable. After all, slavery was once an accepted element in this democratic nation; union demands constituted an illegal restraint of trade; married women had no property rights; workers are not entitled to their earnings; child labor was common; unequal pay for women is an accepted practice. Society did not pay attention to declining employment rates as women, rather than men, were hired to perform these tasks (librarians and secretaries, for example). Today, most Americans support equal pay for work of comparable (not just the same) value. It is high time to ensure that this objective is achieved. 1932 - Federal Economic Law is passed to prohibit wives of federal employees from holding government positions. It also states that women whose husbands work should be first on layoff lists. 1935 – The National Recovery Act requires that women who hold government jobs be paid 25 percent less than men in the same job. 1942 – The War Labor Board decides that women should be paid the same working rate as men (now off to war) were paid. The war ends before the rule can be enforced. No law requires pay equity or equal pay. 1950s – Equal pay bills are introduced by Senator Wayne Morse (D-OR) and Representative Edith Green (D-OR); Republican versions by New York Representatives Katherine St. George and Jessica Weis. No results. 1961 – Labor activist Esther Peterson leads the Women's Bureau, takes responsibility for promoting legislation, gathers data, builds coalitions, and gains allies. The Equal Pay bill is introduced. The original invoice includes a comparable value and stricter application; The final bill does not do this. 1963 - The Equal Pay Act is passed, guaranteeing women equal pay for equal work. 1964 - The Civil Rights Bill is passed. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination against women. 1974 – The International Union of Electronic, Wage, Machine and Furniture Workers sues Westinghouse. The company had implemented a wage rate structure in the 1930s; scores for female jobs were automatically reduced simply because they were held by women, which was not an unusual attitude at the time. 1979 - 20 women's groups, professional organizations and unions form the National Compensation Committee. Equity. Founders include unions such as IUE, AFSCME, SEIU, UAW, NTEU, women's groups such as Business and Professional Women, NOW, Women's Legal Defense Fund, League of Women Voters, the National Commission on Working Women, NARAL, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, National Association of Office Workers, National Commission on Working Women, professional groups such as the American Library Association and the George Meany Center.