Catherwood LibraryILR School

Responding to constant pressure from business interests over the past decade to weaken overtime laws (see WIT for Jan. 8, 2003), the Bush administration yesterday proposed federal rules changes roundly condemned by labor leaders and workers' rights advocates. While the administration has claimed that an increase in the minimum pay level below which workers are guaranteed time-and-a-half overtime pay would extend overtime protections to 1.3 million low-income workers, union officials have pointed out that most of these workers are already protected. At the same time, new definitions for managerial, administrative, and professional employees ineligible for overtime would deprive at least 640,000 workers of overtime and jeopardize the overtime protections of many more with ineligibility based on work experience, military and trade school training, and holding "a position of responsibility."