Women & Minorities Payed less at Energy Department

GAO Finds:" Women were paid between 2 percent- 4 percent less than men at five of six Energy Department laboratories, and minorities were paid about 2 percent less than whites. According to a review by the Government Accountability Office. For fiscal 2001 - 2004. Significant differences in salaries and merit pay raises for managerial and professional women and minorities when compared with men and whites, the congressional watchdog agency said. The six labs in the GAO review were:Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest and Idaho. About 21,000 people work at the labs, which perform scientific and environmental remediation work. In interviews with employee groups and in reviews of staff surveys,GAO said, it found women and minorities expressed concerns in three areas: under-representation in science and management positions, lack of career development opportunities and a laboratory work environment that needs improvement. Come on...Women have known this for years. We have to work harder just to prove ourselves, not only in the work force but also in school-years."