Eric Cantor will propose Federal Law that Ends Overtime Pay for hourly workers

[B5C]

It boggles the mind to know that some members of Congress (like Cantor) make close to $250k annually and sometimes more, depending on the length of service. What could Cantor, et al possibly know about the needs of an hourly wage worker?
We could save money an easier way: End some of Congress’ vacation time and extend their work week to 4.5 days (with a half-day on Friday to get back to their home states.) That way, the taxpayers of the United States will finally get their money’s worth.
Daily Kos (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/25/1189635/-Eric-Cantor-will-propose-Federal-Law-that-Ends-Overtime-Pay-for-hourly-workers)

In Eric Cantor’s February 2013 speech (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/05/full-text-eric-cantors-make-life-work-speech/), he said he wanted to propose Federal Law that would end overtime pay for hourly workers. Currently, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, mandates that certain workers get paid “time + 1/2″ for overtime work. Eric Cantor wants to eliminate that law. Because — ya know — workers not getting paid for overtime hours worked out so good for workers before FDR enacted that Law.
Eric Cantor’s “end of overtime pay for workers” that he talked about in his February speech was overshadowed, in part, by the public whining Cantor did *****ing that ‘Obama gave his speech at the same time as me … wah, wah, wah.‘
In this month’s New Yorker Magazine, Ryan Lizza wrote an excellent article titled: “Can Eric Cantor, the Republican Majority Leader, redeem his party and himself?” in which Lizza reminded readers that Eric Cantor wants to end the Federal law that mandates certain workers get paid overtime for the extra hours they labor.
From the New Yorker Magazine (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2013/03/04/130304fa_fact_lizza?currentPage=all): (page 12)

Can Eric Cantor, the Republican Majority Leader, redeem his party and himself? (page 13)Cantor spoke about school choice, tax reform, expanding visas. After the speech, he rode back to the Capitol and met privately with House Republicans to discuss one of the policies he had emphasized: a policy that would allow workers to convert overtime compensation into time off. “I gave a talk today about helping people and about finally focussing on legislation that has understandable benefits right away,” Cantor said. He explained that it would help parents who wanted to go on a field trip or attend a teacher conference. “What I want to see is how we can communicate this, communicate the benefit. How are we going to build a coalition and get it done?”
First, the Republicans tried to do this very same thing in 2003 in a House Bill: HR 1119 “Family Time Flexibility Act (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/108/hr1119)” (isn’t that a cute title for a bill that will end overtime pay for hourly working moms and dads.)

http://kstreet607.com/2013/02/25/eric-cantor-will-propose-federal-law-that-ends-overtime-pay-for-hourly-workers/

Moral of the story: Never think that government will protect the workers because the state has "laws." Laws can be repelled.

[JPSartre12]

This is disgusting. He is most definitely one of the worst people that are in Congress at this point in time.

[Fionnagáin]

As if this is a matter of one congressman being a dickhead (for all the certainty that he is one), and not about the needs of capital in a period of contraction? It sucks, but it's happening because the working class isn't properly capable of fighting it (at least, not without getting into the bed with the "progressive" wing of capital), not because Cantor specifically, or even Republicans generally, are bad people.

[#FF0000]

lmao okay dude try that and see what happens. Especially around christmas in the warehouses where they have mandatory overtime.

[B5C]

The text about unemployment in Cantor's speech:


Federal laws dating back to the 1930s make it harder for parents who hold hourly jobs to balance the demands of work and home. An hourly employee cannot convert previous overtime into future comp-time or flex-time. In 1985, Congress passed a law that gave state and municipal employees this flexibility, but today still denies that same privilege to the entire private sector. That’s not right.
There’s a police officer at home in my district, her name is Vicki. She is working a tough job, with long hours, while raising her children. Her life is made a little easier because as a local government employee, she is permitted to work some extra hours and save it up for a sick day or a school event.
Imagine if we simply chose to give all employees and employers this option. A working mom could work overtime this month and use it as time off next month without having to worry about whether she’ll be able to take home enough money to pay the rent. This is the kind of common sense legislation that should be non-controversial and moves us in the right direction to help make life work for families.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/05/full-text-eric-cantors-make-life-work-speech/


Sounds like a way for companies could use this to unofficially to lay people off to avoid unemployment benefits & use it to stop providing vacation or personal time off. The biggest issue is that employers will be much happier to milk more surplus labor value.

[Desy]

lmao okay dude try that and see what happens. Especially around christmas in the warehouses where they have mandatory overtime.

People are going to work for regular pay for mandatory overtime if it passes; that's what will happen. I don't see what's funny. Low class republicans already fight for RTW, what makes you think they won't oppress thenselves further? Don't underestimate the power of ignorance.

[homegrown terror]

People are going to work for regular pay for mandatory overtime if it passes; that's what will happen. I don't see what's funny. Low class republicans already fight for RTW, what makes you think they won't oppress thenselves further? Don't underestimate the power of ignorance.

....or the ability of the blind to convince themselves that sight is overrated (and quite possibly evil)

[RadioRaheem84]

I am waiting to hear the right wing punditry spin this into pseudo populist rhetoric.

[Mather]

As if this is a matter of one congressman being a dickhead (for all the certainty that he is one), and not about the needs of capital in a period of contraction? It sucks, but it's happening because the working class isn't properly capable of fighting it (at least, not without getting into the bed with the "progressive" wing of capital), not because Cantor specifically, or even Republicans generally, are bad people.

+1

Too many people attribute the ruling classes attack on workers as down to the incompetence, stupidity and malevolence of individual politicians and not as a systemic feature of capitalism itself.

This was the case with Bush. There is little difference between Bush and Obama policy wise yet Obama gets nowhere near the same level of opposition from liberals and sections of the left as Bush did because they labour under the illusion that Obama is somehow not as bad as that 'dumb cowboy'.