[NRSKarenRN]

N-STAT ALERT: FIGHT FOR RNs RIGHT TO OVERTIME PAY

On April 20, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a revised Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule that, as currently written, threatens the rights of Registered Nurses to receive overtime compensation. Unless Congress intervenes, this new rule will go into effect on August 23, 2004.

Representative David Obey (D-WI) has proposed an amendment to the Labor, HHHS, and Education Appropriations bill that would protect nurses and other workers currently eligible for overtime pay. The Amendment prescribes that workers covered by the FLSA who are currently eligible for overtime pay cannot be denied this pay under the new rule.

It is imperative that the House take up the Obey Amendment, but it appears unlikely that the House Leadership will allow a vote on the amendment prior to the rules’ implementation in August.



ANA believes it is essential to preserve the right to overtime compensation for registered nurses, and has strongly supported past measures including the Harkin (D-IA) amendment in the Senates and a previous amendment in the House by Reps. Obey and George Miller (D-CA) to protect nurses and other workers from the DOL regulations.



ANA has sent a letter to all members of the House asking them to support the Obey Amendment and to urge the House leadership to allow a vote on the provision before the August Recess.

We need your help to make sure this issue is a top priority for Congress. Contact your Representative TODAY. Make the Voice of nursing heard.



WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• <LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Contact your Representative TODAY--you can reach them by phone using the U.S Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121 or by emailing them directly through the ANA Government Affairs Website www.anapoliticalpower.org
  
  
  <LI class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">To get more information on the DOL Overtime Rule and to access and e-mail sample letters on the issue, click here: Overtime Pay Regulations 7/16/04
  
  
• Help spread the word by Telling a Friend about this important issue.