Workers Fear More Work, Less Pay Under Proposed Overtime Changes

[Judi Lynn]

Workers Fear More Work, Less Pay Under Proposed Overtime Changes
By John Pain The Associated Press
Published: Aug 19, 2003


MIAMI (AP) - There are days when Mike Farrar has to get to his job at 4 a.m. to keep up. At that hour, the phones don't ring constantly and the e-mails don't flood in, so he can get a head start on the day's work.

The 50-year-old civilian worker at the Naval Air Depot in Jacksonville, Fla., designs flight-critical parts for military aircraft. And, most times, Navy officials need those plans urgently. Sometimes, his work day stretches to 12 hours, or he comes to the office on weekends.

"There's just not enough time in the day," he said.

Farrar has one consolation for his extra work: overtime pay, which totaled about $13,000 last year.

But now, Farrar and millions of other mostly white-collar workers could be in danger of losing that pay while still having to work the extra hours under a broadly worded Bush administration proposal to overhaul the nation's overtime rules. Democrats and labor unions are fighting the proposal. (snip/...)

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA8ECU1KJD.html

[liberalnurse]

1. Yea, and Gephardt wasn't at work to vote against it

in the House. I won't for get it. I am one who depends on the overtime. As a nurse, I'm doomed until I finish my Masters and become self-employed. Overtime is how I pay for my graduate classes.


Oh, I'm pissed off alright.

[yolatengo]

2. yeah, but...

they'll keep right on voting Republican because Bush is a 'regular guy'
who'll cut taxes and defeat Terra.

Yet another "pro worker's rights" initiative from the Party Of The
Little Guy, the GOP.

What, in a down economy you think a manager might hire 3 workers
to do the work of 6 and then tell them to get all that work done and
'maybe someday' your shirking, stupid ass might get some comp-time
in the 'future'? More like: "you'll get PERMANENT comp-time if you
don't shut the f*ck up and stop complaining, capiche?".

Hey, Red State Conservatives! Can you name ONE labor initiative
from Bush that has actually HELPED you? Put ONE $ more in your
pocket? Keep hoping someday you'll join his Millionaires Klub and
not have to pay ANY taxes! Won't that be GREAT? Meanwhile, keep
bitching about Klintoon's Penis taking away your guns and Hitlery
being responsible for 9/11 while you work your 16 hour days
with NO comp-time and NO OT. F*ckin' UNIONS, what are they
good for????

Bigby (already EXEMPT, but not desiring a return to 1896).