Obama Signs Equal Pay Legislation in Latest Break With Bush Administration

Barack Obama, drawing a line between his presidency and George Bush's in his support for women's rights, signed an equal pay law as his first piece of legislation today.

In a celebration at the White House for women and labor activists, Obama paid tribute to a former supervisor at an Alabama tire factory who fought for the legislation, and whose cause was adopted by his election campaign.

The Lilly Ledbetter law, which bears her name, had been blocked by Bush and opposed by Republican members of Congress, including the presidential candidate, John McCain.

The US supreme court, in a 2007 decision, also rejected Ledbetter's efforts to seek redress after discovering she had been paid far less than male supervisors in her 19 years at the Goodyear tyre factory.

Today, with Ledbetter at his side and wife, Michelle, looking on, Obama said the new law would help make amends.

"This one, this one's for Lilly," he said handing Ledbetter a pen, and giving a thumb's up sign to the audience.

"Making our economy work means making sure it works for everyone," Obama said. "That there are no second-class citizens in our workplaces, and that it's not just unfair and illegal - but bad for business - to pay someone less because of their gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion or disability."

Ledbetter will not personally benefit from the new law, but she said she was glad other women would be protected. "That's what makes this fight worth fighting," she said.

Obama adopted Ledbetter's cause during his campaign. She had a speaking spot at the Democratic convention, and traveled with him on his whistle stop train journey to Washington for his inauguration. She even got a ticket to an inaugural ball, where she danced with the president.

Ledbetter's cause was also adopted by the Democratic Congress. Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state, and Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, were at the White House today for the signing.

The legislation signed by Obama today allows workers greater latitude to sue their employers for unequal pay. Under the new law, women now have six months after receiving any discriminatory pay check to seek redress.

Previously, women who discovered they were earning less than men in the same job had just six months after receiving their first pay cheque to seek a legal remedy. That left women like Ledbetter, who had been working at the tyre factory for 19 years before learning her male colleagues were all making more than her, out in the cold.

The White House said today that Ledbetter lost more than $200,000 (?140,000) in salary, and even more in pension, over the course of her employment.

The new measure also applies to those who seek redress for pay discrimination based on race, religion, disability or age.