America’s Workers Set to Protest Bush Overtime Pay Take-Away

[OneBlueSky]

I don't know if the AFl/CIO has officially endorsed Kerry/Edwards yet, but this article from their website certainly implies their strong support of the Democratic ticket . . .

News for Working Families
AFL-CIO
August 18, 2004

http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/overtimepay/ns08182004.cfm

(snip)

On Aug. 23, when new federal overtime regulations go into effect, workers will continue their year-and-a-half long battle to save overtime pay with rallies across the nation. Since Bush announced the overtime pay take-away in March 2003, workers have sent more than 1.6 million e-mail, mail and fax messages protesting the assault on the nation’s wage and hour laws. Hearing them, the U.S. Senate has voted three times to stop Bush’s overtime pay grab—but White House pressure and maneuvers by Republican congressional leaders derailed the drive to protect workers’ paychecks.

Working families in Dayton and Cleveland, Ohio; St. Louis; and Orlando and Hollywood, Fla., are set to rally against the Bush overtime pay cut Aug. 23, and in Cincinnati, workers will wage their protest on Aug. 19. At the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C., working families will join in an Aug. 23 rally with AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who led the Senate battle to stop Bush’s pay grab.

Although the new overtime pay rules take effect Aug. 23, they still can be blocked or repealed by Congress. During upcoming Labor Day celebrations and throughout the fall election campaign, working family activists will educate voters about the contrast between Bush, who is taking away workers’ overtime pay eligibility, and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who fought the Bush regulations and vows to restore overtime pay rights.

- more . . .

http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/overtimepay/ns08182004.cfm

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I've seen Teamsters for Kerry

bumper stickers here in NW AR. Always wave and give the thumbs up sign to them.

[Hubert Flottz]

2. This has got to cost Bush a bunch of votes!

The only way the GOPers can win is to steal another election!

[mourningdove92]

3. I need to get more educated on this. Because of this new law, I

am now ELIGIBLE for overtime, where I wasn't before. Or maybe that is just the way my right wing employer is handling this. I am a Supervisor in a hospital here in Texas. I was on salary, and now am not. This will increase my pay about $5000.00 per year, because I not only am now eligible for OT, but will be getting OnCall pay (and I am on call all the time).
Of course, when my employer sent out the notices, they included a little information making it sound like Smirk is doing this for our benefit.

I am, of course, glad about the extra 5k a year, but if this law is causing lower income employees to lose overtime pay, then I would just as soon give it up.

Does anyone out there understand this law? My job duties are all management, I do my own hiring and firing, handle the payroll for my team, take care of all the annual evaluations, etc. Why am I suddenly now no longer exempt?

[gulfcoastliberal]

4. AFLCIO Spells it out

Click this:

http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/overtimepay/mythsfactsheet.cfm

[poliguru]

6. I suggest you contact your union

Not only can they explain it very clearly in terms of your specific job, but they have the right to counteract the letter your boss sent out with clarifications. You're probably not the only one with questions. Plus, it undercuts Bush - if people in your position vote for him because of this new bill, it could make a difference in the election, esp. if the letter you were sent gives props to Bush.

Incidentally, they can also evaluate the letter to determine whether Bush was improperly promoted - technically, employers can't do anything that would promote a particular candidate.

[Mel]

7. my take on it but not from a legal understanding

but common sense. If Bush* was so worried about people like you not getting payed why didn't he just fix it for workers like yourself?
Oh, No! that would be to simple and easy for everyone to understand and it wouldn't be for what his $upporter$ wanted now would it?

In the end I think more workers will be screwed out of their pay and well that's good for business and their bottom line.

BTW I'm happy to hear your getting more money! You should not have to give it back!
What should happen is the other workers should not have their pay cut! It's not an either or and workers should not let this divide them.

I swear, it may sound tin foil but I don't think so with the Gangsters/Corporations running of the government we have I wouldn't be one bit surprised if they did this to try to divide the workers against one another.

I would but you might not want to (I have gotten myself in trouble working for the man) tell the boss, Alright! now I have more money to donate to help get Bush* out of office :evilgrin:

[acmavm]

5. Maybe my view on this issue is too simplistic by why shouldn't everyone

who works overtime be eligilbe for overtime pay? Make it simple, pay everyone for their labors.

[The empressof all]

8. Heretic You

Soon your type will be calling for a 35 hour work week....

Don't you know by now that work is to be at the forefront of your mind 24-7. You should be at your employers beck and call at all times. To do anything less-makes you a slacker and un-American.

And you are expecting to be paid for it???? You should be happy to do this for your country.

(OK sarcasm off)

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