California became the state with the strongest equal pay protections in the nation on Tuesday after Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Fair Pay Act. The new law requires employers to pay workers equally for “substantially similar work” even if their titles or work sites are different. The law will also close loopholes that have made it difficult for employees to successfully sue over discriminatory pay. Employers will now be prohibited from retaliating against employees who discuss or ask about co-workers’ wages. AAUW California members were present for the signing of the bill at the Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park and were active during the legislative process. AAUW activists throughout California sent over 3,200 messages to their legislators urging the passage of the bill.