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July 02, 2003
Senator Edwards fights to save overtime pay
Senator John Edwards Monday asked Labor Secretary Elaine Chao to abandon proposed regulations that would eliminate overtime pay protections for more than 8 million Americans."Millions of employees depend on overtime pay to make ends meet," Senator Edwards and 42 of his Senate colleagues wrote in a letter to Secretary Chao. "We urge you not to go forward with any regulation that denies overtime pay protections to any of America's currently eligible hard-working men and women."
Under the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, most workers are guaranteed the right to overtime pay, or time and a half, for every hour worked beyond the normal 40-hour workweek. However, there are exemptions for workers in certain jobs and for those who earn above certain salaries.
The Bush administration's proposed changes would reduce the number of employees that get overtime pay by dramatically increasing the types of jobs that are exempted from the 1938 law. Under these changes journalists, paralegals, medical technicians, practical nurses, fire sergeants, police sergeants, Head Start teachers, draftsmen, surveyors, computer technicians, floor supervisors, retail workers and many others who are currently entitled to overtime pay will lose it. The proposed changes also would deny overtime pay to many employees who earn $65,000 or more a year.
Americans work longer hours than any other industrialized nation. More than 20 percent of our nation's employees work more than 50 hours a week.
In the letter, the senators argued that overtime protections helped Americans balance work responsibilities and family life. Employees exempt from overtime protections are twice as likely to work more than 40 hours a week, according to the General Accounting Office.
The letter also said that many Americans depend on overtime pay. Overtime wages often make up a quarter of their pay.
Senator Edwards disputed the Labor Department's argument that the new regulations would streamline overtime laws and make them easier to understand and enforce. "Millions of workers will understand these changes all too clearly when their overtime is taken away."
Posted by Mike at July 2, 2003 09:33 AM
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Comments
I am an LPN and work in a hospital where I have patients who have multi-system complications. It is a very time consuming job where I not only have to care for my patients, but communicate with the families, and assist the Physicians with their needs. We are expected to also document accurately on each of these patients, which we usually have atleast 8 patients, and take care of all the needs of these patients. It is quite impossible to do all this in an 8 hour shift. I have only had lunch maybe 10 times in the past 3 years and I never get a break. The only time I sit down is to do my charting. Why shouldn't I be paid overtime pay when I am putting in my hours, that I would like to be spending with my family. I am 54 years old and I work 12 hour shifts so that I am able to be with my grandson, who I am raising now for 6 years, so that I can go on field trips, and any
other school function he has. I work every weekend so that I can do this. The people that want to change this law are getting my tax dollars when they retire, so they can keep getting the same benefits they get while they are in office. While I probably will have nothing by the time I retire. Is this fair?
Posted by: Judy Hoffman at July 7, 2003 06:25 PM
It's the hard workers committed to family, work and America that are the back bone of this country. Take away the overtime pay and we will also loose the dedication of these workers who work the overtime for their families and their country. There is a serious break down in America's family structure and work force now.
Save overtime pay. The American family barely survives on the two income minimum wage now.
SAVE OVERTIME PAY AND SAVE THE WORKING AMERICAN FAMILIES THAT ARE KEEPING THE BACKBONE OF AMERICA
ALIVE.
Posted by: Mrs V. Milich at September 30, 2003 06:34 PM
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