The Weird and The Wacky Meet

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The Price Of Eliminating Overtime

Right now, there is a war being waged between President Bush and Washington Democrats over whom in this country should be eligible for overtime pay.  Bush wants to eliminate overtime for 8 million people, including experienced nurses, policeman, and firemen.  But on October 2, the House of Representatives staged a minor victory by putting on record, 221-203, that they were against the changes to the overtime laws.  This win is very important, because American workers deserve to be paid what they work for, and someone needs to stand up for their rights over that of corporations.

                 These proposed changes in overtime pay are attached to the appropriations bill for the departments of Labor, Health, and Education.  The bill covers funding for three separate federal departments and over 300 federal programs.  It’s the largest bit of spending our government does outside of defense, with over $470 billion allocated for use.  This year the bill also includes raises for Medicaid and Medicare expenditures.  Bush has threatened to veto the bill unless it is passed with the overtime changes in effect.  This amounts to blatant blackmail!

                 The numbers, however, are unclear.  Even how many people are affected by the proposed changes is in dispute.  The Department of Labor, headed by a Bush appointee, is estimating that 644,000 workers will lose overtime.  Labor unions and Democrats are hotly contesting this number, because the Economic Policy Institute, a respected bi-partisan think tank, has estimated the number at 8 million. 

                 Whether it’s 8,000,000 or 644,000 people not receiving benefits for working over forty hours a week doesn’t matter.  A good portion of families depend on overtime to make ends meet.  Given that jobs are scarce, this pay has come to mean even more.  How are these families supposed to survive?

                 The proposed changes would give overtime pay to 1.3 million workers who are currently not eligible for it.  No one, myself included, seems to be challenging this part of the new law.  It’s a wonderful idea to give everyone who works more than forty hours a week a monetary pat on the back for a job well done.  Keeping the workers happy is part of a having a healthy economy.  This can also create new jobs by encouraging companies to hire more people when there is more work, instead of abusing current employees by making them work more hours with no extra pay. 

                 Even though 1.3 million workers might soon be receiving overtime pay, it’s not really worth much because another change includes making even minor supervisory positions ineligible for overtime.   All a company has to do is redefine a job to that of a “professional” or “supervisor,” and they do not have to pay the worker overtime.  This gives employers a right, which they can too easily abuse, and make people who need more income to survive desperate.

Among the 8 million people who will most likely be ineligible for overtime pay are experienced nurses, policeman and firemen.  These trained professionals are our society’s first line of defense against any sort of disaster, natural or otherwise.  If they’re overworked or not in peak condition, lives will be lost. 

                 I’ve been amazed by the severe lack of media coverage on this topic.  No one is saying anything because the only people who stand to benefit from these changes are big corporations.  I applaud the Democrats in Washington who are standing up for the rights of workers above corporations.  Write your Senators and Representatives and give them your opinions.  Go to http://www.house.gov/writerep/, find who is representing your interests, and tell them what you think.

Copyright 2003

Not the original graphic

By Amanda Evans

Original Publishing Date: 11/06/03