Gender Pay Disparity at University of Michigan Sparks Legal Battle
The University of Michigan, along with its medical branch Michigan Medicine, faces legal scrutiny as a lawsuit has been filed alleging gender pay discrimination. The legal action centers around claims that female physician assistants earn considerably less than their male counterparts.
According to the lawsuit, female physician assistants at Michigan Medicine earn an average of $9,000 less per year than their male colleagues, despite possessing equivalent qualifications and experience. This discrepancy is alleged to be a violation of Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex discrimination.
Christine Oldenburg-McGee, a physician assistant and the plaintiff at the forefront of this legal challenge, aims to secure class-action status for the case. The lawsuit accuses the University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine of being aware of the wage disparity, yet failing to implement corrective measures. The suit describes the defendants’ actions as “willful and intentional.”
This legal dispute is part of a broader context of recent labor tensions involving Michigan Medicine and various employee unions. Oldenburg-McGee, who leads the United Physician Assistants of Michigan Medicine, has been vocal about advocating for wage parity. However, the lawsuit notes that a 2021 contract negotiation between the union and Michigan Medicine failed to close the wage gap, effectively reinforcing it instead.
The lawsuit seeks multiple forms of compensation, including “compensatory damages for economic and non-economic loss,” as well as “exemplary damages to deter future unlawful conduct.” Currently, Michigan Medicine employs a total of 450 physician assistants, with women making up more than 300 of these positions. The University of Michigan has not yet provided a comment regarding the ongoing legal proceedings.
—
Read More Michigan News
