Down time, and overtime
Blogger was down for most of today, which not only made it impossible for us million-plus Blogger users to post, it kept our readers away as well. Blogger Control reports the problem was due to "too many packets being sent our way."
Anyway, back to the subject of overtime. Here's what George W. Bush said on that topic yesterday in an interview with CNBC's Ron Insana:
INSANA: And recently you changed some federal rules to exempt more workers from overtime pay, something now that Senator Tom Harkins says he has the votes to overturn or block in the Senate. How do you go about dealing with that?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, explain it clearly, that what we've really done is increase the number of workers that get overtime pay. This was a--the Labor Department looked at old regulations that had been on the books for a long time, and tried to make the regulations fit the modern-day workforce. And the truth of the matter is more people will get overtime pay, not less.
INSANA: Senator Harkins said 8 million fewer people will get it. Why such a big disparity--
PRESIDENT BUSH: I guess what Senator Harkin ought to do is call up the Secretary of Labor and let her explain our position in an open hearing so everybody gets to hear the facts.
An open hearing! What a great idea! If these revisions were in the form of a law rather than administrative regulations, then Congress would indeed be having hearings and most likely would invite the Secretary of Labor to explain. But that's not what's happening. These are rule changes within the Department of Labor, and until this interview, the Bush administration hasn't even hinted at including our elected representatives in the process. So I endorse Mr. Bush's suggestion: let's have open hearings. I do not endorse his threat to veto the bill if Senator Harkin's amendment is approved.
posted by Janet Dagley Dagley @5:54 PM
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6.9.03  |
Overtime, one more time
If you think it's tedious reading about the same subject over and over and over every day on this blog, just imagine how tedious it will be working all those extra hours for no additional pay. The Senate is debating the issue right now; Sen. Robert Byrd is talking about (among other things) what it was like before the current rules on overtime went into effect in 1938. He was "a produce boy," back in 1930, and he had to work "as many hours as it took to keep the job," with nary a prospect of additional pay.
Here's the provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 that requires overtime pay for many (but not all) workers:
"No employer shall employ any of his employees who in any workweek is engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or is employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, and who in such workweek is brought within the purview of this subsection by the amendments made to this chapter by the Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1966,
(A) for a workweek longer than forty-four hours during the first year from the effective date of the Fair Labor Standards Amendments of 1966,
(B) for a workweek longer than forty-two hours during the second year from such date, or
(C) for a workweek longer than forty hours after the expiration of the second year from such date,
unless such employee receives compensation for his employment in excess of the hours above specified at a rate not less than one and one-half times the regular rate at which he is employed."
If you don't care whether 8 million American workers, possibly yourself, will lose the right to overtime pay, then you don't need to contact your senator. But if you do care, then please do. Today.
posted by Janet Dagley Dagley @12:37 PM
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5.9.03 |
First things first
The U.S. Senate has yet to act on the issue of protecting overtime pay (no need to protect overtime work-- there's plenty of that, and there'll be much more if more employers can force employees to work overtime for no extra pay). So if you haven't contacted your senator, there's still time; just click here.
Meanwhile, the House of Reporesentatives did manage to find time to give themselves, their Senate colleagues, and other government employees a pay raise today.
posted by Janet Dagley Dagley @6:13 PM
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4.9.03 |
Time, and a flying disc
Congratulations to the Fraternal Order of Police for making sure their members will still get paid for overtime despite the proposed Department of Labor rules that would eliminate that compensation for more than 8 million workers. The U.S. Senate still hasn't voted on the bill I mentioned yesterday, so there's still time for you to contact your own senators and urge them to protect overtime pay.
Speaking of time, we have some new products in The Dagley Dagley Daily Cafe Press Shop, including the Dagley Dagley Daily Wall Clock to help you keep track of your time, and your overtime.
And to match, a tossable flying disc. Visit our shop to see more.
posted by Janet Dagley Dagley @6:16 PM
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3.9.03 |
Working overtime re: overtime
I don't usually post twice in one day, but I wanted to pass along this urgent message about what you can do NOW to save overtime pay for more than 8 million American workers. The vote in the U.S. Senate could come any time now, so please contact your senators right away.
posted by Janet Dagley Dagley @7:57 PM
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2.9.03 |
Not a pretty picture
Thanks for joining us for this first post of the fall blogging season. While we were out relaxing in the mountains, the news continued, so let's catch up on some of it now.
First, the war in Iraq. Please see our Question of the Week over there on the left, and please add your opinion to the poll.
Meanwhile, here are some more opinions on the same subject:
Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, speaking at the funeral of his assassinated brother, Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, lashed out at the U.S. and called for the Americans to leave Iraq.
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. William "Scott" Wallace, now back from Iraq, talks about the new "Center for Army Lessons Learned."
The Washington Post offers a roundup of foreign opinion on Iraq and what we should do now.
Al-jazeera offers a roundup of Arab opinion on the same subject.
In other news, two of the names that made news earlier this year are teaming up: former prisoner of war Jessica Lynch and former New York Times reporter Rick Bragg will be working together on a book, "I Am A Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story." Lynch got a medical discharge from the Army last week; Bragg was let go by The Times earlier this year after questions arose about his use of uncredited freelance reporters and datelines from places he hadn't been to. Since Lynch apparently does not remember much of her ordeal, it's surprising that former Times reporter Jayson Blair, fired for making stuff up, wasn't brought in on the project. Lynch and Bragg will share a $1 million advance, but any royalties would go to her.
Finally, as if we all didn't have more than enough to worry about, last week scientists discovered an asteroid that might hit the earth on March 21, 2014. The chances of the asteroid's hitting earth are about 909,000 to 1, which is better odds than the lottery but still not very likely.
posted by Janet Dagley Dagley @5:44 PM
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Back to the real world
Happy Labor Day! As the holiday weekend comes to an end, so does our trip to Mt. LeConte. Now comes the hardest part: going back.
If you'd like a souvenir of this vacation, remember that today is the last day of the End of Summer sale in our Cafe Press Shop. Our special offer on custom T-shirts, lunchboxes, mousepads, mugs, tote bags and other handy items continues: we'll put any photo from this blog (except Towercam views) on any Cafe Press item for you at no extra charge.
posted by Janet Dagley Dagley @3:54 PM
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1.9.03 |
Where the butterflies roam
For a butterfly, getting to the top of Mt. LeConte is no big deal. But these monarch butterflies travel much farther than that every year. You can read all about it here:
posted by Janet Dagley Dagley @2:41 PM
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31.8.03 |
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