Overtime issue splits Bush, Teamsters

[Khephra]

Overtime issue splits Bush, Teamsters


By James G. Lakely
THE WASHINGTON TIMES



President Bush's courtship of labor unions has crumbled over the administration's unwavering commitment to allow more flexibility in overtime rules, a political conflict that now embroils the Senate.

Republicans and the Teamsters union have seen eye to eye on a few issues — most notably exploring a small portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil — giving rise to the idea that Mr. Bush would be the third Republican the union has endorsed for president since Ronald Reagan in 1980.

But labor unions are united against an attempt by the Bush administration to rewrite the rules governing overtime pay. The Labor Department wants to allow businesses more flexibility in offering compensatory time off rather than paying overtime. Democrats and unions claim millions will be denied the overtime pay they count on to support their families.

The White House threat to veto the spending bill for the Labor Department and the Health and Human Services Department if it contains an amendment to overturn new overtime rules has scuttled the fragile alliance.

more,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030909-103542-1541r.htm

[Gore1FL]

1. "unwavering commitment to allow more flexibility in overtime rules"

Bahahaha

Kremlin speak again

More flexibility in overtiem rules = no overtime.

[FloridaPat]

2. You would have thought the split would have occured as

Bush allowed all those jobs to go overseas. Actaully comp time is better because you pay less taxes. But most corporations that have overtime are too busy to let you take time off.

[yankeedem]

3. You do understand that less taxes

Means you're making less money, right? When I can pay my bills with comp time, I'll take comp time.

[veganwitch]

11. "too busy to let you take time off."

exactly. im a single-esque gal making 30,000 before taxes. but ive still got bills to pay and the overtime i get (i work in a law office so theres always plenty to do) goes towards my savings. im just now starting to no live hand to mouth.

after taxes, without my overtime i would barely make it month to month.

and working in a law office for two very busy litigaters means that im constantly busy and taking a few days off can put me way behind with back filing. i took this position from some one who got in over their head. im not going to let that happen to me. therefore, vacations are not really an option. not like i have the money to go anywhere anyway.

[izzie]

4. I do not understand this one at all. Why did they do this?

A third grade education would say not to make the unions mad or all those people who get over time. I figured I must have missed something.

[bearfan454]

13. They are cocky as hell because

they are so damn sure the fix is in with the electronic vote stealing.

http://www.blackboxvoting.org

[shirlden]

5. Another scam by the * Admin

The way I see it. They will get this passed but the corporate creeps will not implement it until after the next election. By November of next year the voters that this would impact will have forgotten about it. Will vote for Bush and then get shafted. This is a big deal. There are a few million workers who do depend on overtime to pay their bills....my niece and husband included. They don't normally vote and I am using this issue to convince them they need to get to the polls.

Wake up America !!!

:bounce:

[lumpy]

6. The Teamsters have come to their senses.

Case scenario: Workers working over 40hrs.per.wk. without overtime pay might well refuse overtime hrs. causing job loss. This could bring about rehiring workers raising phony job raise numbers and downsizing unemployment numbers. Downsizing has caused many people to work well over a 40hr.week causing problems in job performance & safety concerns. Downsizing has helped cause a crisis in available medical care. Way past time for industry to take a second look and do the patriotic thing to restore economic stability to this fouled up country by discontinuing their greedy practices. I'm dreaming.

[Gman]

7. The Teamsters have sucked up to Republicans for years

all it's gotten them is the government running their union. Hoffa thought if he sucked up enough to Bush*, he'd relax the government's running the Teamsters.

See what it got them?

Teamsters aren't trustworthy and neither is Bush*.

[study_war_no_more]

14. teamsters for a democratic union

TDU is fighting from within to take our Union back and it is diffucult to the extreme. We are having a meeting today in which we will decide to join AFSCME in striking at the University of Minnesota. The Star Tribune just published an anti strike opinion and Television and the University administration continue to misrepresent and skew the situation. Please send DU vibes to minnesota we are at war here.

[dusty64]

8. Gee, ya think maybe

the Teamsters are realizing their chimp is not a friend of the working people after all (DUH!).

[Bozita]

9. Senate vote on CSPAN2 in next few minutes

according to Tom Harkin on WJ this morning

[veganwitch]

12. harkin was great this morning

usually some folks will politely try to deal with rude callers, he just laughed at them.

[LynneSin]

10. Maybe the teamsters would support Bush, but not the rest of them

I just finished reading a copy of Steelabor magazine, the quarterly magazine from the United Steelworker's Association (USWA) Union. I think a dead seaslug would have a better chance of getting an endorsement than Bush, although I'm a little peeved they've come out and endorsed Gephardt already.