e-Claire

Back That Dam Truck Up

this can't be right -- cannit? Granted, I am no labor lawyer [so no spitting] but I'm having a leeedel bit o' trouble connecting the dots on the Kerry overtime-rules-change charges and what I read from the Dept. of Labor news release and site. Mebbe you can help me out.

D of Labor:"6.7 million workers will see their overtime protections strengthened under the new Overtime Security Rule," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

Kerry and his pet media: Kerry campaign and organized labor say the regulations will exempt up to six million additional workers from receiving overtime pay

D of Labor: The new rule expands the number of workers eligible for overtime by nearly tripling the salary threshold. Under the previous 50-year-old regulations, only workers earning less than $8,060 annually or $155 per week were guaranteed overtime. Under the new rule, workers paid less than $23,660 or $455 per week are now automatically guaranteed overtime regardless of their titles or duties. A number of salaried workers earning above this threshold will also gain the right to overtime under the new, stronger rules. This strengthens overtime protections for 6.7 million low-wage salaried workers, including 1.3 million salaried white collar workers who were not entitled to overtime pay under the previous regulations.

Kerry and his pet media: The Economic Policy Institute, a liberal research group, has issued a report, which many Democrats have relied on, concluding that the rules will exempt about six million workers from overtime coverage.

D of Labor: Hourly workers are guaranteed overtime regardless of how much they are paid.

The [new] rules largely exempt workers earning more than $100,000 from overtime pay, although those with union contracts calling for overtime will continue to be eligible.

Michael Eastman, director of labor law policy at the United States Chamber of Commerce, said companies were not seizing on the new rules to try to deny overtime pay to many workers. He praised the administration's efforts, saying the regulations sorely needed to be overhauled.

Kerry and his pets: the A.F.L.-C.I.O. says ...Mr. Bush has given its [sic] corporate friends a gift that will cut the paychecks of millions of Americans.

D of Labor:Businesses will have to pay an additional $375 million and workers will gain that amount in additional earnings every year. ...Union workers under collective bargaining agreements are not impacted.

Kerry Campaign "Wheels on fire Rolling down the roaaad Please notify my next of kin This wheel shall explode.... "

DOL Fair Pay Facts "This website includes fact sheets, video instruction and is searchable. It also tells workers how to file a complaint with the Department of Labor if they believe they are improperly being denied overtime. " I gotta go hunt down the Advil....... . UPDATE: Puggs is waaay ahead of me!

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