From Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/07/kroger-macys-boycott_n_3721553.html
By Amanda Terkel
08/07/2013
A progressive group is calling for a boycott of the retailers Macy’s and Kroger Food Stores after a news report revealed this week that they opposed passage of a Texas equal pay bill.
“While these stores advertise to Moms and Millennials, they have been secretly organizing to stop mothers and young women from getting equal pay for equal work,” said Ed Espinoza, executive director of Progress Texas, in announcing the boycott on Wednesday. “Macy’s and Kroger worked to veto Equal Pay, so we are encouraging consumers to veto these stores during Texas’ Back to School Tax-Free weekend.”
State Sen. Sylvia Garcia (D) has already canceled an Aug. 7 appearance at a Macy’s store to kick off the tax-free weekend.
“While I strongly support the tax free weekend that allows parents struggling to provide clothing and supplies for their children before they return to school, I was dismayed to learn that Macy’s and Kroger would oppose equal pay for equal work,” Garcia said in a statement. “As a co-sponsor of the legislation and supporter of equal rights, I am supporting the call to boycott until these stores reverse their position and declare their support for equal pay.”
The bill would have brought Texas state law in line with the federal Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which makes it easier for women to sue employers over wage discrimination. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) vetoed the bill in June.
On Tuesday, the Houston Chronicle reported that the Texas Retailers Association and five of its members had written to Perry and urged him to veto the legislation. Macy’s, Kroger, the Houston grocery company Gerland Corp., Brookshire Grocery Company and Market Basket all wrote to the governor, the Chronicle reported.
Continue reading at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/07/kroger-macys-boycott_n_3721553.html
