Society Must Decide

Reason tells us there has been comparable worth discrimination in some jobs employing women (“Comparable Worth: Worthy Bid for Fairness,” John F. Lawrence, May 19).

That same reason tells us that traditional methods of job evaluation are not a sound basis for getting at the problem--if we understand how those methods work. Our problem, I believe, is: Those who make law and policy, and those who observe on the problem, simply will not get into the guts of those methods and understand their flaws in their new role. That’s understandable, but it’s not acceptable. The reason is simple: The law on this subject is nothing more than a statement of intent.

It offers no guide whatever to the values on which comparability will be decided. If we move directly and uncritically from this generalization to the acceptance of the results of job evaluation methods, we are giving to consultants and job evaluation clerks the right to decide upon our social values. That’s a harmful cop-out.

If this issue is important enough to act on, it’s important enough for society to decide on the values that will guide it.

We are not a technocracy, and we can’t solve this problem in a useful way by defining it (which is all Title VII did) then giving it to technicians who are not responsible to us, especially when the technology used for this purpose is so flawed. I’m no sexist or free market fanatic and I don’t find myself in bed with Reagan on social issues. But there’s got to be a better way.

F. X. OLANIE

Seattle