(8 Apr 2014) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus008466
Pressing his pay-equity crusade, President Barack Obama signed an executive order Tuesday making it easier for employees of federal contractors to get information about wages and find out how much their colleagues are making.
He also directed the Labor Department to issue rules requiring federal contractors to provide aggregate compensation data by race and gender.
The actions aim to reduce gender gaps in compensation that continue to favor men and were part of a concerted election-year effort with congressional Democrats to draw attention to women's pay.
In his East Room remarks, Obama sharply criticized Republicans, saying they are obstacles to workplace fairness.
The president's executive order and directive to the Labor Department dovetailed with the start of Senate debate on broader legislation that would make it easier for workers to sue companies for paying women less because of their gender.
White the ctions affect only federal contractors, those directives can have a wide and direct impact.
Federal contracting covers nearly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce and includes companies ranging from Boeing to small parts suppliers and service providers.
Such actions also can be largely symbolic, designed to spur action in the broader economy.
The Senate legislation, like Obama's narrower executive order, would forbid companies from punishing workers who share salary information and would allow punitive and compensatory damages in lawsuits.
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