NYT: Controversial Overtime Rules Take Effect (under Dem, labor attack)

[DeepModem Mom]

Controversial Overtime Rules Take Effect
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

Published: August 23, 2004


The Bush administration's new overtime rules go into effect today, but the Kerry campaign has already begun attacking the overhauled regulations, saying they will hurt millions of American workers.

Urging President Bush to scrap the rules, the Kerry campaign and organized labor say the regulations will exempt up to six million additional workers from receiving overtime pay by redefining which workers qualify for time-and-a-half pay when they work more than 40 hours. But the administration asserts that no more than 107,000 workers will lose their eligibility, while 1.3 million workers will gain the right to overtime.

In essence, the hundreds of pages of new rules redefine the criteria for which administrative, professional and managerial workers qualify for overtime, among them nurses, chefs, pharmacists, funeral directors, claims adjusters and restaurant managers....


***

To turn up the volume on the issue, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. says it will hold a news conference today and will distribute several million fliers saying Mr. Bush has given its corporate friends a gift that will cut the paychecks of millions of Americans.

The administration asserts that the new regulations are needed to replace vague, outmoded rules that have spurred many lawsuits as employers and employees tussle over which workers are exempt and which are not. The administration argues that the overtime rules are clearer, will be easier to enforce and will reduce expensive litigation that hurts business and the economy....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/23/politics/23overtime.html

[Moderator]

1. DeepModemMom

You are a real asset to DU. You have copied six paragraphs from the NYTimes article. To avoid having your threads locked, please only copy four paragraphs ( even if they are short)

Thanks

[ozymandius]

2. 107k lose overtime pay while 1.3 million gain benefits! Liars!

Since when did this administration do anything to help the middle class worker/manager? This smells like some of the revisionist math the White House used to "disappear" the textbook recession after 9/11.

[cap]

3. proof is in the paychecks...

watch the personal income report...

[Rambis]

11. I don't know but...

The "Patriot act" takes away civil rights-
A "Free speech zone" restricts assembly
"Swift boat assholes for turth" well...
"Clean air act"
Should we believe were aren't going to get fucked by this new overtime law too? Based on this track record...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. My boss thinks that loss of overtime means

he doesn't have to pay us AT ALL if we work over 8 hours!

[iconoclastic cat]

5. Um, did you set him straight on that one?

[annabanana]

7. He may not have to

pay you for the "extra" hours if you're classified as management. You may have to stay "til the job is done"...

[ArnoldLayne]

14. That is what is

going to happen to alot of white-collar middle management salary Bush supporters that I see in the Steel Mill (Whg-Pitt Steel Corp)where I work. I don't think they realize it, yet they strut around the Mill with their "Bush Cheney 04" stickers on their nice clean white hardhats. I can't wait to see their smug,sneering faces when I still see them on straight time in the Mill at 9:00 in the evening instead of time and a half especially during high school football season.:evilgrin: :toast:

[Catfight]

6. This is why Shitboat Liars are all over the media, because this is

PROOF that Bush doesn't get a shit about middle income families and poor families, only his elitist friends. Remember when you vote this year how much more your CEO makes than you...300 times more, SO for every hour you work overtime, you pay for the gas for his yacht.

[Red State Rebel]

8. Person on the radio explaining it now....

Everyone making under $23,700? is guaranteed overtime if they work it. Management over that I guess can pay it or not. It is up to the employer as to whether they cut the overtime. In other words, if it is part of collective bargaining or it is a job sector that is in demand (i.e. nursing, etc.) then the overtime will probably not be changed.

I didn't get everything, but it sounds confusing!! Oh, I found out the person who was talking about it was the President of the Chamber of Commerce.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Better get a second opinion --

[DeepModem Mom]

10. kicking for the Coast

[ArnoldLayne]

12. A National Strike by

the AFL-CIO leadership should now be called like what should have happened in 1981 when Reagan fired the PATCO workers. But they,the AFL-CIO bureaucratic leadership, not the workers were to cowardly then as they are now for fear of jeopardizing their own privileged positions in society. :mad: :mad:

[ArnoldLayne]

13. The Kerry and Edwards Campaign

have to condemn this betrayal to all workers blue collar and white collar in new campaign adds as soon as possible while the issue is still hot. We have to get the Swift Boat Veterans adds and Vietnam out of the news immediatly. :kick::kick:

[guitar man]

15. So far

I haven't been "reclassified" but it could happen. I'd be willing to bet we won't see a lot of activity on this front until after the election. Then people will realize too late they've been screwed.