Letter: President wants to eliminate overtime pay

Monday, April 26, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.

Your April 20 front-page AP story on overtime elimination is misleading.

The Bush administration's objective is to enhance the profits of mega enterprises by eliminating overtime. A revised administration proposal raises the eligibility floor from $22,100 to $23,660 a year. The classification criteria for exemption from overtime remains and definitive rules are unclear. This is the "rules" redefinition, which would have eliminated overtime for approximately 8 million workers, including police, fire and EMTs. Last year the Senate and the House voted to prohibit overtime cuts. However, the White House strong-armed Congress to prevent the congressional action from becoming law.

Don't believe the administration's hype on this subject. Next year we build pyramids -- straight time! If you want pyramid-building overtime, contact your representatives and the White House.

GIL EISNER

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