Greg Palast: The Grinch That Stole Labor Day (overtime bites the dust)

[gristy]

THE GRINCH THAT STOLE LABOR DAY
by Greg Palast
Friday, 29 August, 2003

In celebration of the working person's holiday, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao has announced the Bush Administration's plan to end the 60-year-old law which requires employers to pay time-and-a-half for overtime.

I'm sure you already knew that -- if you happened to have run across page 15,576 of the Federal Register.

According to the Register, where the Bush Administration likes to place it's little gifts to major campaign donors, 2.7 million workers will lose their overtime pay -- for a "benefit" of $1.53 billion. I put "benefit" in quotes because, in the official cost-benefit analysis issued by Bush's Labor Department, the amount employers will now be able to slice out of workers' pockets is tallied on the plus side of the rules change.

Nevertheless, workers getting their pay snipped shouldn't complain, because they will all be receiving promotions. These employees will be re-classified as managers exempt from the law. The change is promoted by the National Council of Chain Restaurants. You've met these 'managers' - they're the ones in the beanies and aprons whose management decisions are, "Hold the lettuce on that."

My favorite of Chao's little amendments would re-classify as "exempt professionals" anyone who learned their skill in the military. In other words, thousands of veterans will now lose overtime pay. I just can't understand why Bush didn't announce that one when he landed on the aircraft carrier.

CHOICE NUMBER FOUR: BREAK THE LAW
Now I should say that, according to Chao's press office, the changes will actually extend overtime benefits to 1.3 million burger flippin' managers. How does that square with the billion dollar "benefit" to business owners? Simple: The Chao hounds at the Labor Department suggest that employers CUT WAGES so that, with the new "overtime" pay, the employees won't actually take home a dime more.

I can hear the moaners and bleeding hearts saying, this sounds like the Labor Department is telling Big Business how to evade the law. Yep, that's what the Department is doing. Right there on page 15,576 of the Federal Register it says,

"Affected employers would have four choices concerning potential payroll costs: ? (4) converting salaried employees' basis of pay to an hourly rate that result in virtually no changes to the total compensation paid those workers."

And in case some employer is dense as a president and doesn't get the hint, Madame Chao repeats, "?The fourth choice above results in virtually no (or only a minimal) increase in labor costs."

For decades, the courts have thrown the book at cheapskate bosses who chisel workers out of legal overtime by cutting base pay this way ? but now they'll have a new defense: Bush made me do it.

But then, there won't be any cases against employers, because Chao is the labor cop that is supposed to stop paycheck theft. She's well qualified for the job. Her resume reads, "Married to Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky." I called her press office to ask if she qualifies for overtime, but they'd left the office early.

And good news for our sporting President. Word from the White House is he'll be golfing on the Labor Day weekend. Under Chao's rules, he need not worry if he wants to replay that hole. "Exempt professionals" who cannot earn overtime - once defined as doctors, lawyers and those with specialized college degrees - will now include anyone who provides skilled advice ? like caddies ("You might try the other end of the club, Mr. President").


THE ACORN FALLS ONLY SO FAR
Finally, on this Labor Day weekend, it's time this nation took a cold look at the issue of hard-core unemployment. Neo-conservatives have warned us about families that pass on joblessness from generation to generation.

Take, for example, the sad case of the Bush family. When Poppy Bush was president, unemployment hit a generational high of over 9 million Americans. Bill Clinton, through education and hard work, put more than 3 million of those citizens back on the job.

Now Bush Junior, repeating his family pattern of joblessness, has presided over the return of unemployment for 9 million Americans.

This was not unexpected, sociologists warn us. Hard core unemployment, through failed schooling and a don't-care attitude, takes on a nearly genetic character. The acorn falls only so far from the tree. Especially when the nut falls on its head.

[prolesunited]

1. I love Palast

but for copyright reasons, you need to shorten this to 2-3 graphs and provide the link.

[gristy]

2. It was emailed to me (and all his "subscribers")

So obviously I don't have a link. I then made the assumption that since I received it in an email I could post the whole thing. I'll leave the whole thing up unless a consensus builds that it needs to be trimmed.

[prolesunited]

3. In the words of Emily Litella

"Never mind."

:hi:

[screembloodymurder]

4. Wow!

Why haven't we read this in our papers.

My favorite of Chao's little amendments would re-classify as "exempt professionals" anyone who learned their skill in the military. In other words, thousands of veterans will now lose overtime pay. I just can't understand why Bush didn't announce that one when he landed on the aircraft carrier.

When will America's military people realize they are being used and abused by this administration?

[Old and In the Way]

8. Gee, I know.....

Strange isn't it...such good news like this goes unmentioned by this "compassionate conservative"pResident. Why not give this the full PR treatment....I mean, this is such a good thing for the average American, right?

[0007]

5. Much of this was on PBS

last night, "Now" Bill Moyers. The unemployment, jobs going over seas, ecology & pollution problems and much more.

[QC]

6. Great letter to the editor material here!

I plan to write one about the death of overtime and send it out to some of the papers in the area.

Hope other will do the same--this issue is a godsend for bringing the working class back to its rightful party.

[gristy]

7. Post your letter for us when you have it!

K?

One thing to keep in mind, though. Papers generally like to get letters in response to articles or editorials. If you can link yours to something printed in your paper earlier, it will help get it published.

Alternatively, you can write your own longer opinion piece that doesn't need to refer to any article.

[kclown]

9. Silver lining

Ruling won't change union contracts.  AFL-CIO will be printing
up membership cards.

[prolesunited]

10. You can read more firsthand

about how Bush "salutes" workers on Labor Day here. Frankly, I think he is using one finger.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030830/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_1

[John_Shadows_1]

11. Here's the link:

http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=267&row=1

This is what democrats should be talking about - the investor class has had it's ass kissed long enough. Workers are what matters.