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Senate Blocks Overtime Pay Rules
The U.S. Senate took a strong stand this week against the Bush administration's anti-worker agenda, voting to bar the Department of Labor from issuing new rules that would take overtime rights away from millions of workers.
The Senate voted 54-45 to overrule the DOL in an amendment to the $137.6 billion appropriations bill for labor, health and education. Six Republican senators joined all Democrats, except Zell Miller, of Georgia in voting against the regulations.
The matter will now go to a Senate-House conference committee. The House by just three votes - 213-210 - rejected the same amendment in July. The Bush administration is threatening to veto the spending bill if the overtime amendment is attached.
"The Senate stood up for workers and blocked the White House's plan to cut the paychecks of millions of working families," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "We urge the House to follow the Senate's lead and end this disgraceful attack on the 40-hour workweek and workers' overtime pay."
The six Republicans who supported workers in the vote were Alaska's Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski, Arlen Specter (Pa.), Lincoln Chafee (RI), Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Col.), and Olympia Snowe (Me). Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) was not present due to a death in his immediate family.
"We strongly commend the six Republicans who broke ranks with the administration for having the courage to do the right thing, in the face of considerable lobbying by the White House," Bahr said.
Bahr and other labor leaders said the fight to save overtime will be stepped up in coming days and weeks as the issue moves to the joint committee, then back to both chambers for new votes. For updates on this campaign and how working families can get involved, see ga.cwa-union.org and www.aflcio.org.
The Senate voted 54-45 to overrule the DOL in an amendment to the $137.6 billion appropriations bill for labor, health and education. Six Republican senators joined all Democrats, except Zell Miller, of Georgia in voting against the regulations.
The matter will now go to a Senate-House conference committee. The House by just three votes - 213-210 - rejected the same amendment in July. The Bush administration is threatening to veto the spending bill if the overtime amendment is attached.
"The Senate stood up for workers and blocked the White House's plan to cut the paychecks of millions of working families," CWA President Morton Bahr said. "We urge the House to follow the Senate's lead and end this disgraceful attack on the 40-hour workweek and workers' overtime pay."
The six Republicans who supported workers in the vote were Alaska's Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski, Arlen Specter (Pa.), Lincoln Chafee (RI), Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Col.), and Olympia Snowe (Me). Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) was not present due to a death in his immediate family.
"We strongly commend the six Republicans who broke ranks with the administration for having the courage to do the right thing, in the face of considerable lobbying by the White House," Bahr said.
Bahr and other labor leaders said the fight to save overtime will be stepped up in coming days and weeks as the issue moves to the joint committee, then back to both chambers for new votes. For updates on this campaign and how working families can get involved, see ga.cwa-union.org and www.aflcio.org.