This page was printed from the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Web site at www.paaflcio.org. For more information about the information in this document contact:

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
231 State Street
7th Floor
Harrisburg PA 17101 • 800-242-3770

PA AFL-CIO PRESS RELEASE

August 10, 2004

Statement by Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President William George On Labor Secretary Elaine Chao’s Remarks to Fraternal Order of Police Convention

"Secretary Chao continues to mislead hardworking Americans with claims that the new overtime regulation, which takes effect August 23, will protect the overtime rights of workers. In reality up to six million workers will lose their overtime protection when this is implemented forcing them to work longer hours without fair compensation.  This is the last thing that working families need right now when we’re struggling to find and keep good jobs, and make ends meet.

"With this new rule, President Bush has given his corporate friends the green light to stop paying overtime pay to hardworking Americans. The final regulation makes it easier for employers to reclassify workers and take away their overtime protection.

"Workers from all walks of life are at risk of losing overtime pay – registered nurses, law enforcement personnel, assistant managers at retail stores and fast food restaurants, team leaders, chefs, financial service industry workers and insurance claims adjusters are among those who could lose overtime protection under the new rule.

"Not only will these employees no longer get overtime pay – they’ll be working extra hours free, earning only their base salary! What incentive will employers have to keep workers’ hours reasonable now? We will have less time with our families thanks to President Bush’s new overtime rule."

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