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On Tuesday, April 8, Obama said the salary gap between men and women is unfair and needs to be remedied, outlining an election-year effort by Democrats to highlight pay disparities and shore up support for the party's candidates among women voters.
"A woman's got to work about three more months in order to get what a man got, because she's paid less," Obama said, speaking at a White House event. "That's not fair. That's like adding an extra 6 miles to a marathon."
The president spoke before signing two executive actions related to equal pay among workers for federal contractors. The orders prohibit the contractors from retaliating against workers for discussing their pay. They also direct the Labor Department to establish regulations requiring federal contractors to give it summary data about their employees' pay based on gender and race.
"I am in favor of it," Ossining Village Manager Cristina Papes said.
Papes said many factors go into women not receiving the same pay as men.
"Women often leave the workforce and reenter," Papes said. "But there is no reason why equal work should not result in equal pay."
Val Tana, an Ossining hairstylist, said she was all for equal pay.
"Women should bring each other up and empower each other," Tana said. "I'm all for female empowerment."
Assemblywoman Sandy Galef (D-Ossining) is a big proponent of equal pay.
"Women live longer and are retired longer," Galef said. "They are at a disadvantage. You are doing a disservice to women and they starting behind the curve."
Galef, who voted for equal pay legislation in the assembly, said women have to be independent.
Jackie Dicioccio said it should be about whether you're qualified, not gender.
"I don't see why you should be paid differently," Dicioccio said.
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