President Obama said Saturday in his weekly address that the new overtime rule was “the single biggest step” he could take to raise salaries for families.
“This is the single biggest step I can take through executive action to raise wages for the American people,” Obama said. “We still have more work to do to make sure this economy works for everybody, not just those at the top.”
The new rule allows people who earn less than $47,476 annually to automatically qualify to earn overtime if they work more than 40 hours a week.
“Any way you slice it, it’s a win for working families,” Obama said.
House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized the rule, saying it hurt “the very people it alleges to help,” such as students and employees working at non-profits.
[House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized the rule, saying it hurt “the very people it alleges to help,” such as students and employees working at non-profits.]
The quote leaves off his final remark:
“That’s why we will not do a damn thing.”
Damn straight Prez. This is a very big win in the face of Congress’ determined opposition. The OT laws have been unchanged since the 1970’s. Companies have systematically exploited the rules on OT to the disadvantage of their employees. Good on ya!
If Paul Ryan disagrees with it, then it must be great for working people!! Thank you, Mr. President.
The Republican plan to help “those people” is to drive wages down cheaper than Haiti’s 31 cents an hour so that we have full employment. I mean, after all, at that price, it’s cheaper to have people sweep the streets by hand rather than to have one of those job-killing machine thingies. Work with Dignity for All!
The new overtime rule is definitely a win for working families. It doesn’t help me, though, because my employer classified me as management at a fairly low salary to avoid paying me overtime for the 5-15 hours per week that I work over and above 40 hours. I’m not in a position to do anything about it right now because I’m 6 months shy of retirement, and I need the job. I wonder how many other people are in the same position–illegally classified as exempt and not in a position to report it for some period of time.