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Kids' Corner: Longer Workdays, Less Pay: What's Fair About That?
Everyone has to work late sometimes. All grownups miss a few dinners at home and every now and then your parents might - unhappily - miss one of your ballgames because the boss says they've got to work.
But usually they can count on getting off work in time to help you with homework or scouting projects, or cheer for you at after-school sports and other activities.
That's because of a law passed in 1938 called the Fair Labor Standards Act. It says that most employees can't work more than 40 hours a week unless their boss gives them overtime pay.
After 40 hours the boss has to pay workers an extra 50 percent. So if your mom makes $20 an hour during her regular workday, she gets $30 an hour - an extra 10 bucks - for working overtime.
Some people like to work a little bit of overtime because the extra money helps pay the bills or save for such things as family vacations and college. But no one likes to work endless hours. And thanks to the law, managers know that keeping people at work late on a regular basis will cost their companies or public agencies, such as police and fire departments, a lot of money.
But now the government wants to change those rules, and millions of families could be hurt. Lots of workers who now get overtime pay wouldn't get it anymore. And that means that their bosses could make them stay at work for long hours.
"If these regulations are changed as proposed, I'll be starting my day at 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning and working until 10:30, 11 o'clock at night," says Tim O'Brien of Albany, N.Y. , a newspaper reporter and president of TNG-CWA Local 31034.
He says his 7-year-old daughter counts on him to read to her at bedtime, and she's sad when he can't be there. Now he's afraid that she'll "have more opportunities to cry, because Daddy isn't home to be with her and the rest of our family."
If it sounds unfair, you're right. It's not fair at all. In fact, it's wrong. Many laws and rules that once protected workers' rights and their safety on the job have been cut back since President George W. Bush took office two and a half years ago. But union leaders and other concerned people say taking away overtime is the most hurtful plan yet.
"The law that the president and the Department of Labor want to change was passed by Congress 65 years ago to help workers and only workers - not businesses," CWA President Morton Bahr says. "Congress wanted to make sure that companies treated workers fairly, and that workers would have time away from their jobs to enjoy their lives and families. That could all change now."
The president's administration is listening to businesses instead of listening to workers. And businesses always want to cut costs. Even companies that make loads of money and pay their top executives millions of dollars want to cut workers' pay and benefits. They don't think they should have to pay overtime.
The rules are pretty complicated, even for grownups to understand. But it's important that they try, because their jobs could be affected. Office workers, newspaper reporters, police officers, firefighters, nurses, lab technicians, truck drivers and people who have served in the military are among a long list of workers who could lose their overtime. Talk to your parents about this, and tell them to read our story on page 9 that explains what's happening in a lot more detail.
No matter how old you are, your opinion counts. Letters to your senators and representatives would be a big help. Ask your parents or teachers for the names of your state's members of Congress and think about writing to one or more of them. Tell them how it would hurt your family if your parents have to start working long hours for no extra pay.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are concerned about what the president and the Labor Department are trying to do. When they get back to work after Labor Day, they'll decide whether to put a stop to it. They want to know what the people they serve think. And you're one of the people they serve, even if you can't vote yet.
You can find addresses for members of Congress by looking up their local offices in your phone book, or you can find them online. Go to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. You can also find e-mail addresses for them there.
But usually they can count on getting off work in time to help you with homework or scouting projects, or cheer for you at after-school sports and other activities.
That's because of a law passed in 1938 called the Fair Labor Standards Act. It says that most employees can't work more than 40 hours a week unless their boss gives them overtime pay.
After 40 hours the boss has to pay workers an extra 50 percent. So if your mom makes $20 an hour during her regular workday, she gets $30 an hour - an extra 10 bucks - for working overtime.
Some people like to work a little bit of overtime because the extra money helps pay the bills or save for such things as family vacations and college. But no one likes to work endless hours. And thanks to the law, managers know that keeping people at work late on a regular basis will cost their companies or public agencies, such as police and fire departments, a lot of money.
But now the government wants to change those rules, and millions of families could be hurt. Lots of workers who now get overtime pay wouldn't get it anymore. And that means that their bosses could make them stay at work for long hours.
"If these regulations are changed as proposed, I'll be starting my day at 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning and working until 10:30, 11 o'clock at night," says Tim O'Brien of Albany, N.Y. , a newspaper reporter and president of TNG-CWA Local 31034.
He says his 7-year-old daughter counts on him to read to her at bedtime, and she's sad when he can't be there. Now he's afraid that she'll "have more opportunities to cry, because Daddy isn't home to be with her and the rest of our family."
If it sounds unfair, you're right. It's not fair at all. In fact, it's wrong. Many laws and rules that once protected workers' rights and their safety on the job have been cut back since President George W. Bush took office two and a half years ago. But union leaders and other concerned people say taking away overtime is the most hurtful plan yet.
"The law that the president and the Department of Labor want to change was passed by Congress 65 years ago to help workers and only workers - not businesses," CWA President Morton Bahr says. "Congress wanted to make sure that companies treated workers fairly, and that workers would have time away from their jobs to enjoy their lives and families. That could all change now."
The president's administration is listening to businesses instead of listening to workers. And businesses always want to cut costs. Even companies that make loads of money and pay their top executives millions of dollars want to cut workers' pay and benefits. They don't think they should have to pay overtime.
The rules are pretty complicated, even for grownups to understand. But it's important that they try, because their jobs could be affected. Office workers, newspaper reporters, police officers, firefighters, nurses, lab technicians, truck drivers and people who have served in the military are among a long list of workers who could lose their overtime. Talk to your parents about this, and tell them to read our story on page 9 that explains what's happening in a lot more detail.
No matter how old you are, your opinion counts. Letters to your senators and representatives would be a big help. Ask your parents or teachers for the names of your state's members of Congress and think about writing to one or more of them. Tell them how it would hurt your family if your parents have to start working long hours for no extra pay.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress are concerned about what the president and the Labor Department are trying to do. When they get back to work after Labor Day, they'll decide whether to put a stop to it. They want to know what the people they serve think. And you're one of the people they serve, even if you can't vote yet.
You can find addresses for members of Congress by looking up their local offices in your phone book, or you can find them online. Go to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. You can also find e-mail addresses for them there.