From left: Kathi Goertzen, Lilly Ledbetter, and UW Women’s Center Executive Director Sutapa Basu
The UW Women’s Center hosted a lunch featuring Lilly Ledbetter, who shared her story of struggle for equity in the workplace. The conversation was moderated by Kathi Goertzen from KOMO 4 and took place at the Westin Hotel in Seattle. The event raised $10,000 for the Center, and about 300 people attended.
Ledbetter was a 20-year Goodyear Tire employee in Alabama who sued the company for unfair labor and wage practices and won $3 million in damages. This was later reversed when Goodyear appealed to the Supreme Court. However, on Jan. 29, 2009, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. ♦