The Electronic Newsletter of the Florida AFL

Home

Officers

Links

BellSouth
New at&t

Old AT&T

Avaya/Lucent

Legislative

The Electronic Newsletter of the Florida AFL-CIO

Back to Electronic Newsletter Index Back to Legislative Page

Back to CWA 3120 Links Page

Overtime Vote could be this week. Please Act Now!

September 2, 2003

September 2, 2003

The Senate debate on President Bush's overtime pay cuts will begin this week with a vote expected any day. This is the most important chance we've had to block the overtime pay cuts before they go into effect. We know you may have acted before, but PLEASE ACT AGAIN TODAY by clicking on the link below and sending a message to your U.S. senators asking them to support the Harkin Amendment that would block the Bush overtime pay cuts. It will only take a minute and will make a big difference.
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/senovertime/d338ga05w65

The overtime pay cuts proposed by the Bush administration could take away overtime pay from at least 8 million workers. Overtime pay protections are the heart of the 40-hour workweek--and even the weekend. Without them, employers would have no reason to treat workers fairly--they could require longer and longer days without paying workers extra for their overtime hours. Click here to take action, or keep reading.

The Bush overtime pay take-away would save employers billions--right from workers' paychecks. They would allow employers to do almost anything they want by blurring the rules for overtime eligibility. One congressional study of the Bush overtime changes said they would allow employers to do almost anything.

The Bush administration changes could make large numbers of workers who have job-related training ineligible for overtime, for example. Health care, technical, computer, law enforcement, firefighting and skilled trades training could cost workers their right to overtime pay. This is completely outrageous and we need to stop it.

Send your letter: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/senovertime/d338ga05w65

Tell your friends, family and co-workers: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/senovertime/forward/d338ga05w65

The overtime pay takeaway won't just hit workers in the pocket. According to the Economic Policy Institute, "The millions of employees who will see their pay reduced will, in all likelihood, see their hours of work increase at the same time. Once employers are not required to pay for overtime work, they will schedule more of it."

Tens of millions of working families depend on overtime pay. Please act today.

Thanks for all that you do.

Prior E mail message from July, 2003.

We've just learned that the White House is blocking online

letters to President Bush on overtime pay and many other

issues. The New York Times quotes a national Web expert

today saying the White House actions are "probably designed

deliberately to cut down on their e-mail." This is a clear

sign that you're making a difference and the Bush administration

is trying to shut out criticism.

Now, while the White House is trying to turn down the

heat, we need to turn it up. More than 8 million workers

could lose their overtime pay in the coming months unless

these changes are stopped.

Here is how you can help:

During the next week as many people as possible need to

contact their U.S. senators and ask them to vote to block

the Bush overtime cuts. You can send a fax from an AFL-CIO

Web page by clicking on the link below.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/senovertime/d338ga05w65 New link 9-2

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/senateOTrider/8s87xd4ajkkx

After you take action, please e-mail your friends, family

and co-workers and ask them to get involved and help stop

these pay cuts. You can send a message to as many as 10

people at once by clicking on the link below.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/senateOTrider/forward/8s87xd4ajkkx

The vote in the U.S. Senate could come as early as next

week. Please take the time to get involved.

Thanks for all that you do.

--------------------------------------------------