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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday June 5, 1985 - Page The debate surrounding comparative worth Is comparative worth an idea whose time has come, or is it, as the chairman of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission recently the looniest idea observed, since Looney Tunes? This was the question examined by Utah Foundation, the private research organization, in its latest study. Comparative worth is an extension of womens demand for equal pay for equal work. However, it goes far beyond the federal Equal Pay Act of 1963, which requires that a woman be paid the same as a man if both are doing the same job. Comparative worth requires paying the same for different jobs if someone determines the jobs involve comparable skills, effort, and responsibility. Foundation analysts point out that most of the comparative worth activity thus far has been directed against public agencies. Many observers feel, however, that private employers eventually will be affected if the idea becomes prevalent in the public sector. The 1985 Utah Legislature made an assignment to the appropriate interim study to examine the committee, feasibility of providing the principle of comparative worth to be incorporated into the classification and pay plan for state employees. The Foundation research study indicates that adminis FattCaers tration of a comparative worth pay plan would involve a great deal of subjective judgment. Someone would have to evaluate every job and decide how it compares with every other job in terms of knowledge and skills, mental demands, accountability, and general working conditions. At the present time, differences in pay scales among jobs are determined by market forces governed by the laws of supply and demand. In April, 1985, the U.S. Civil Rights Commission released a report that was sharply critical of the comparative worth concept. The Chairman stated that its adoption would, restructure our free enterprise system into a economy under the guise of fairness. Supporters of comparative worth, on the other hand, base their case on the following arguments: 1. The sex bias must be taken out of wage setting. 2. Women earn less than men not because their work has a lower intrinsic value but because employers 50 years ago decided to pay women less. 3. While salaries in the market may be considered, more attention by employers is given to internal job relationships in setting wages. 4. Studies have shown that job classes are paid much less than male- state-controlle- d female-dominate- d .'X . ' Xi f Pay at Monticello dominated classes of job value. equivalent 5. Historically, women were prohibited or discouraged from applying for many of the higher paid job classes now dominated by men. 6. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. 7. In areas where comparative worth has been tried, many of the dire consequences predicted by the opposition have not occurred. Opponents of comparative worth list the following major arguments against the concept: 1. While there may be some individual cases of sex discrimination, it is absurd to suggest that millions of employers throughout the nation would act in collusion to hold down wages in predominately female occupations. 2. In our free society, individuals are not prevented from changing to higher paying jobs, if they can meet the qualifications and are willing to tolerate the working conditions. 3. Recent that progress women have made in entering professions and occupations once dominated by men will be blunted, if the pay in predominately female occupations is artifically raised above what the free market will bring. 4. It is not possible to judge more-demandin- g Merc Mens Dress Slacks Wrangler and Levi Dress Shoes Western Boots Dress Shirts 20 Elk Leather (Blifff free-mark- free-mark- by Stan Byrd has served on the board of directors for the Utah Navajo Development Council (UNDC) as a representative of the Navajos living in the Blanding area since January of of this year. As Wes Oshley vice-preside- the Blue Mountain Dine, Blanding, Utah INVITES YOU FOR Sunday Mennen Skin Bracer $147 I Wednesday Thursday stripes, solids, wools, blends $050 Bible study 10 am am & 5 pm Montezuma Creek Mission 7 pm 7 pm 7 pm study Worship Prayer & Bible Bluff-Montezu- 11 study Creek Bible fellowship MONTICELLO MERCANTILE KUTA 790 Mon-Fr- i Sunday "Lift For Living" "At Home With The Bible 7 District. In 1982 Oshleys father en- couraged him to move from Monument Valley to Blanding to work with the local Navajo community. After becoming a part of the Blue Mountain Dine, he was elected as and more recently as UNDC representative. Oshley says the Blue Mountain Dine is a unique group. vice-preside- nt than the regular chapters that have We are different close ties to the tribe. Without the legal status of being a chapter, we have a problem being recognized by the tribe and other agencies. But as Utah Navajos we are working to gain that recognition, said Oshley. Oshley says his main goal as a UNDC board member is to ...bring good programs to the people...in housing, jobs, health and treatment of alcoholism..? Another thing I want to do, he said is to have a continuing and improved relationship with the local anglo community. Oshley says other areas he will work on are updating census figures, working on land exchanges with the Bureau of Land Management and improving relations with tribal, county and government agen- Degree conferred Fellowship Bible various agencies including the Navajo Tribe, social services and the San Juan School cies. Oshley currently lives in Monticello with his wife Lula and nine of their 12 children. First Baptist Church 157 S. 300 W. 4 oz nt et Worship Sg50 Oshley active on UNDC Board et Wallets stan Byrt photo Wes Oshley, member UNDC Board et $099 Ties ' Oshley was elected by members of the group to serve with eight other UNDC board members. Six of the board members the comparative worth of represent chapters on the Utah hundreds of jobs and occuportion of the Navajo Reserpations with any degree of vation and two represent the fairness. Navajo tribe and San Juan 5. Implementation of the County. comparative worth idea would Oshley replaces Harry Jelly create a bureaucratic nightof Blanding as a board member. mare. It would greatly compliOshley will serve four years and cate employment decisions and is responsible for working with cost the American public bilthe community, UNDC, and lions of dollars each year. other chapters to administer 6. Comparative worth is a funding for programs in comscholastic idea that is contrary munity services, education, to the philosophy. health and natural resources. It would make government Oshley was raised in Blandwhich decisions for responsible ing and attended local schools. historically were made on an He lived in Roswell, New individual basis in a Mexico for three years where he environment. attended police academy and, 7. Do Americans want to add following graduation, worked comparative worth to the list of as a police aid. He returned to laws that have modified the where he worked as a forces in the U.S. Blanding policeman. Since then he and have made this nation less city has returned to school, atworld the in competitive College in tending Snow Ephraim, Utah and worked for free-mark- 11 05 am 8 am Phil Kasper, a 1973 graduate of San Juan High School, received a Master of Arts degree in spring commencement exercises at Western State College of Colorado in Gunnison. His academic major is elementary administration. He is the son of Arthur and Donna Kasper of Blanding. |