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Herb Rothschild Jr.: Spreading the risk of vaccination ... Ticket Availability ... Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Spreading the risk of vaccination ... Ticket Availability ... ASHLAND Louie's Restaurant hosts fourth annual Equal Pay Day Comment By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings Posted Apr. 17, 2015 at 4:54 PM Updated Apr 17, 2015 at 4:55 PM By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings Posted Apr. 17, 2015 at 4:54 PM Updated Apr 17, 2015 at 4:55 PM » RELATED CONTENT • Will the gender pay gap ever disappear? » Social News Chances are national Equal Pay Day on Tuesday, April 14, might have slipped by unnoticed for many. But Melissa Jensen, owner of Louie’s Restaurant in Ashland, is working to change that. For the past four years, female patrons have received 23 percent off their tab at Louie’s on April 14. The 23 percent reflects the estimated national wage gap between women and men. April 14 represents the additional days a woman has to work into the new year to equal the pay a male counterpart earns in the previous year. For those who find those numbers hard to believe, Jensen says they’re not alone. The event began four years ago after a conversation with patrons at the restaurant. “I was talking with a group from the American Association of University Women, and they were complaining about the wage gap. And I was quite certain when I told them 'no, ladies, that was in 1974 when I was in high school.' And they said ‘no, the gap is alive and well. That’s today!’ And I thought if I didn't know about it, I’m sure most people don’t know, so I started this as a campaign for education.” Jensen says there are regulars that turn out each year to take advantage of the discount and express solidarity in the movement to end the wage gap. Her staff, both men and women, also show support by wearing red. Jensen explains that this is to remind everyone that women are still “in the red” compared to their male counterparts in the workplace. Jensen is not the only one to draw attention to the wage gap. President Barack Obama signed a proclamation codifying National Equal Pay Day in April of 2014, noting “The time has passed for us to recognize that what determines success should not be our gender, but rather our talent, our drive, and the strength of our contributions.” Also in 2014, the White House established the Equal Pay Taskforce to examine the causes of the wage gap and recommend solutions. But Jensen’s approach is much more personal. Flyers explaining the event were in place on each table and in the window for weeks ahead of Equal Pay Day, but Jensen says this isn't so much to draw people in to the restaurant as to generate awareness. “I don’t do this to bring people into Louie’s, I do it because it’s the right thing to do. It generates a lot of appreciation and love from a certain segment of the population, but it’s not a boon to the restaurant. I do it for education.” Though the small flyers are taken down each year following the event, a large poster detailing the wage gap remains on the back wall year-round. It’s one of the many social causes Jensen supports in the community. After 14 years owning the restaurant, she says she is finally in a position to contribute to local nonprofits, particularly educational institutions. She just finished a fundraiser for Helman Elementary school, and fundraisers for other nonprofit groups fill her calendar for the next few weeks. “It’s a way for me to be a part of this community, and finally I’m in a position to give back.” Alec Dickinson is an Ashland freelance writer. By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Alec Dickinson For the Tidings Posted Apr. 17, 2015 at 4:54 PM Updated Apr 17, 2015 at 4:55 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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