The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

On taking away overtime pay - also known as the only reason that companies keep in check the number of hours they require you to work in a given day:


From: "Wythe W Holt Jr." wholt@law.ua.edu
Organization: University of Alabama School of Law
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 09:53:01 -0600

Hello, my friends.

I hope you caught the response of Elaine Chao yesterday on
NPR, to tough questions asked about the administration's ditching
of worker overtime. No substance at all, just "hurt" and
"amazement." This maladministration continues to believe it is
above criticism, can lie to us at will (mostly bait and switch), and
does not have to respond to actual questions or claims from the
rabble -- that is, us.

Meanwhile, the congressperson's question was correct. The
Bush administration does intend to take away overtime pay from
lots of workers -- thus increasing "productivity" by lowering wages
per hour worked. Statistics are more important than eating and
having some leisure and dignity.

Here's something you can do about it.
In solidarity, Wythe

Dear Working Families e-Activist:

A lot is going on in the drive to block President Bush's
overtime pay take-away. Here is all the news:

* The U.S. Senate scheduled but failed to vote today on new legislation to block
the Bush Department of Labor from implementing the overtime pay take-away.

* Unless they are stopped, it is now likely that the overtime pay take-away will be
finalized before April 1. The exact date is up to President Bush and Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.

* More than 500,000 people have signed the Petition to Save Overtime Pay--a huge landmark.

Together we're doing everything we can--but unless public pressure forces Republican leaders in
Congress and the Bush administration to back down, more than 8 million workers probably will
lose their right to overtime pay, even though polls show a majority of Democrats, Independents and
Republicans oppose the overtime pay take-away.

So, much more is needed. Please ask your friends, family and co-workers to sign the Petition to
Save Overtime Pay today. They can sign online by clicking on the link below.
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/f1qrqgE1K18b//

Or, you can ask them to sign the petition by downloading and distributing the printable petition form.
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/f7qrqgE1K18O/

While Bush and his secretary of labor are working to take away overtime pay from millions of
America's workers, more than 10 million people are out of work. Worse, President Bush's economic
report to Congress calls the avalanche of U.S. jobs being sent overseas a "good thing." The report
says it "makes sense" for U.S. companies to make products overseas and sell them here in America.
How out of touch are these people? Who are they working for?

Let's all show them the difference we can make when we speak out together. Spread the word about
this petition! Forward this e-mail to your friends, family and co-workers.

Thanks for all you do. Look for more updates soon.

In Solidarity,

Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO
March 4, 2004

P.S. Check out this short animation on the Bush overtime pay
take-away from cartoonist Mark Fiore.
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/fdqrqgE1K186/