Wednesday, February 20, 2002
|
Wednesday, February 20, 2002 |
|
Is PTC Development Authority only a man's world? Is the Peachtree City Development Authority an equal opportunity employer or is it just a "man's world"? The above question has me perplexed. After reading the articles in local newspapers regarding Kristi Rapson's suit alleging the Development Authority underpaid her as former director of the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, it seems apparent that the Authority has chosen to pay the male director of the tennis center in one quarter the amount of Ms. Rapson's annual salary and yet, the jobs were equal in responsibility. I find it very hard to understand that a progressive city like Peachtree City would have members on their development authority that believe that equality of opportunity and pay apply only to their male counterparts. I feel the following is relevant: 1. Members of the authority have been all males until September 2001 when the first female member was appointed. 2. The tennis center produced $854,000 in revenues in the last year as compared with the amphitheater producing $1.146 million in income. 3. The members of the authority must not wish for their wives, daughters, extended female family members or female friends to receive equal pay when in comparable jobs with a male coworker. 4. The authority must also believe that female employees are substandard individuals who deserve low salaries but can still produce sold-out concerts, sold-out sponsorships, exceptional entertainment, garner publicity for the city in local, state and national publications, and serve a total of 46,000-plus patrons at a minimum of 20 summer concerts. 5. The authority also fails to recognize that these patrons spend money in the local economy for picnic dinners, drinks, food at local dining spots, and lodging. 6. The amphitheater hires many local teenagers and adults as ushers, ticket takers, stage personnel, opening acts and, as I have observed, Peachtree City police to do security. 7. The development authority's chairman has already stated in the newspaper that he thought the lawsuit in question "didn't have merit." I am sure that most male and female citizens of Peachtree City disagree "unconditionally." Ms. Rapson, I applaud your stand for justice, not only for yourself, but for other female employees of the authority. Your sacrifices will not go unnoticed because sound principles outweigh small, temporary, monetary gains. Fleda R. Little Peachtree City
|
||