Clinton: New Overtime Provisions
Not Enough To Protect Workers

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton recently criticized the Bush Adminis-tration’s revised overtime regulations as smoke and mirrors designed to shortchange America’s workers.

"I am dubious of this proposal. Ame-rican Workers should not allow a tiny amount of progress to distract them from the fact that this Administration remains indifferent to their rights," Clinton said. "While the Administra-tion’s revised proposals are heading the right direction, they still leaving millions of American workers in danger of losing their overtime, which is unacceptable."

"The 40 hours work week was es-tablished to protect workers from un-scrupulous employers," said Clinton. "If this basic protection is eroded, not only will our workers suffer, their fam-ilies and their communities will too as employees are forced to work longer hours with no additional pay."

The Administration’s rule curves out certain groups, including first re-sponders and nurses, for protection while leaving others at risk of losing their overtime eligibility. "I want to ensure that all workers currently eligible for overtime pay keep that protection," said Clinton. "The Bush Admini-stration should not be picking and choos-ing workers."

For those receiving overtime pay, it represents 25 percent of their annual income on average.

The Administration’s rule also raises the minimum salary under which workers would automatically qualify for overtime. In the Administration’s first proposal, the level was at $22,000. The final regulation raises it to $23,660. This increase is an improvement, but if the threshold, which was last adjusted in 1975, were adjusted for inflation it would be $31,720 today.

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
Golden City: Bought, Burned, Bought Again	1