Obama: A Hard Day's Work Deserves a Fair Day's Pay

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/265-34/31027-focus-a-hard-days-work-deserves-a-fair-days-pay

We've got to keep making sure hard work is rewarded. Right now, too many Americans are working long days for less pay than they deserve. That's partly because we've failed to update overtime regulations for years -- and an exemption meant for highly paid, white collar employees now leaves out workers making as little as $23,660 a year -- no matter how many hours they work.

This week, I'll head to Wisconsin to discuss my plan to extend overtime protections to nearly 5 million workers in 2016, covering all salaried workers making up to about $50,400 next year. That's good for workers who want fair pay, and it's good for business owners who are already paying their employees what they deserve -- since those who are doing right by their employees are undercut by competitors who aren't.

That's how America should do business. In this country, a hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay. That's at the heart of what it means to be middle class in America.

As president, my top priority is to strengthen the middle class, expand opportunity and grow the economy. That's why I believe in middle-class economics -- the idea that our country does best when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules. It's driven me from day one. It's fueled our American comeback. And it's at the heart of the fundamental choice our country faces today.

Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do exceptionally well? Or will we push for an economy where every American who works hard can contribute to and benefit from our success?

Naturally, NAM is against it. Fuck 'em.
http://www.manufacturing.net/news/2015/06/nam-overtime-regulation-is-one-more-roadblock-for-manufacturers

“Today, the Department of Labor announced the demotion of at least 5 million Americans. Manufacturers are proud of the modern workplaces and high salaries they offer their workforce, and this proposed regulation is another in a long list of regulatory roadblocks to healthy and robust economic growth and job creation. We will continue to pursue policies that allow manufacturers to create high-paying, good jobs and vigorously oppose policies that are counterproductive to achieving that goal.”

Sign the petition to support this rule!

http://fixovertime.org/epi/?utm_source=Economic+Policy+Institute&utm_campaign=3c74e0e1ea-OT_NPRM_1_06_30_20156_30_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e7c5826c50-3c74e0e1ea-58129873

To Secretary Tom Perez, U.S. Department of Labor:

The Department of Labor should act immediately to raise the overtime threshold to $50,440, a change that would bring guaranteed overtime protection to more than 11 million more workers by virtue of their salary alone.

In 1975, more than 60% of salaried workers were protected by overtime laws, but today it’s only 8%. Updating overtime regulations is one of the most important steps the DOL can take to protect working families.

[TheCount_]

1. I see a lot of abuse and cutting corners in a lot of industries.

I know of nurses working 12 hour shifts and not getting breaks. Technically, they still get two 15 minute breaks on the clock. That really adds up over one year.