Baker Plans To Sign Equal Pay Bill

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says he plans to sign a bill that would require men and women to be paid equally for comparable work.

The Republican told reporters on Monday that he would sign the legislation sometime next week.

The Massachusetts House and Senate unanimously approved the measure during a rare Saturday session sandwiched between the Republican and Democratic national conventions.

Supporters say women are currently paid on average about 82 percent of what their male counterparts make for comparable work in Massachusetts. The bill attempts to define what constitutes comparable work.

The bill also bars employers from asking prospective workers to provide a salary history, though salary information could be offered voluntarily.

The bill's supporters say Massachusetts would be the first state to adopt that provision.