Despite Comcast’s legal threats, Kenney signed pay equity bill

On Monday, just like he said he would, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney signed into law the controversial pay equity bill that prompted a hint at legal action from Comcast.

“I know that Comcast and the business community are committed to ending wage discrimination, and I’m hopeful that moving forward we can have a better partnership on this and other issues of concern to business owners and their employees,” Kenney said in a statement reported by Newsworks. “This doesn’t need to be an either/or argument — what is good for the people of Philadelphia is good for business too.”

The bill, approved unanimously by City Council, would ban employers from asking candidates about their salary history.

The Media Mobilizing Project, which urged Kenney not to cede to Comcast’s pressure, congratulated him over his announcement of support for the bill last week.

“Over 400 of us wrote Mayor Kenney to ask him to sign this historic legislation – to listen to us, instead of Comcast – and, today, we won!” the nonprofit said in an email.”