Overtime rules pass House

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 17, 2003

from psna legislative alert :july 16, 2003

http://www.psna.org

federal overtime pay amendment defeated

on july 10 the u.s. house of representatives voted to defeat an amendment that would have blocked the department of labor from implementing new rules on overtime pay of some white-collar employees, including nurses. the amendment, which lost 213-210, was introduced by congressman george miller (d-ca) and dave obey (d-wi). the amendment was offered during the debate on the fiscal year 2004 labor, health and human services and education appropriation bill.

these new provisions to the federal labor standard act would have eliminated thousands of employees who are eligible today to receive overtime pay. one study suggests as many as 8 million employees could be affected. the american nurses association sent a letter to the department of labor in opposition to the proposed regulations. in addition to the amendment, congressman miller along with congressman peter king (r-ny) introduced h.r. 2665 which would bar the labor department from excluding any worker now eligible for overtime pay.

please contact your u.s. representative and him/her to cosponsor this important resolution.

resqrider · Jul 17, 2003

ya know the DOL needs to get the collar color, some of us are white collar ,some are brown collar and some are red collar. i think they need to get form behind there desks and come put our uniforms for a day and then rethink the overtime law. Nurses are not always that appreciated, as it is.

wishingmary · Jul 17, 2003

I just sent a class e-mail out through Blackboard telling them that it passed the house. My only comment was I hope everyone is writing their senators now. I don't think they have any idea of what is happening. I feel really sick to my stomach. This will really help the nursing shortage, huh.

resqrider · Jul 17, 2003

I know what you mean i will be graduating in a year from nursing school. i wonder how this will affect me on my first job

RNIAM, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2003

This may seem radical and controversial . Refuse to work if the bill is signed. How many nurses are out there? How many have licenses? How many nursing students are out there? Simply take the 2 minutes necessary to sign your name to a letter specifying that will refuse to work if the bill is passed.

It is an idea. I really think unification can happen if the greater good of all is considered. Here is another thought since this is not just about nurses why not test the waters with the other groups affected? We should be paid for the work we perform. Government should not dictate our wages.

I am willing to formulate a list of nurses that are willing to refuse over-time if this bill is passed. here is the kicker we all will need to back it up by refuseing to be mandated. That could mean losing your job. The other thought is a national walkout day to be scheduled before the bill is set to be pass. Think about the messsage that would send. It certainly would make it clear that nurses were not sitting back waiting for the crap to fall in their laps. What does eveyone think?

resqrider · Jul 17, 2003

ALL I CAN SAY IS WHERE DO I SIGN!!!

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jul 18, 2003

I too will refuse to work extra hous at regular pay. I have been thinking of how I will manage this, I will reduce my work week to 32 or less hours. If I get sick and don't have insurance, oh well, too bad, they have to take care of me. If I call in, oh well, too bad, fire me ! I am easily replaced, right? This will lead to a nation wide strike of all non-union professionals. Or at least the ones with any sense. Sorry, but I refuse to be exposed to all of the dangers, AIDS, HEP C, HEP B, and numerous others for no overtime at my low pay rate. All of the Senators from WV voted against the bill. They would be afraid not to in this strong union state. I have been assured that my facility will continue to pay overtime, I believe that one too, they said no lay-offs 48 hours before they laid off 100 people a few years ago. This is just another way GWB is helping the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. Remember this at election time people!!!

RNIAM, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2003

I ---------- (fill in the blank will refused to work if the overtime bill is passed.

I am not great with wording can anyone help? Maybe we can leave it here as a sticky, have people copy and paste the exact same letter sign it and send it to your senators?

I know people are usually afraid to post names on bb's, so with that if someone more eloquent than I can put together a letter. I will be happy to leave my email address. Those folks can email me their names, addresses, and if your an RN for how many years, LPN same info, Student nurses the date you will graduate. This way I will be the only one with your info. Does this sound ok? If it doesn't then does anyone have any other ideas that might work? This has to happen soon.

my email is [email protected]

AMV · Jul 18, 2003

I went to the link that someone posted here on this topic regarding overtime pay at:

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/191/business/Nation_s_nurses_lobby_to_protect_overtime_pay+.shtm

part way down it says....

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Registered nurses are currently exempt from overtime under federal law. But most hospitals pay overtime anyway when nurses work more than 40 hours because of increased competition for trained nurses, concerns about patient safety, and greater demands on hospitals and clinics stemming from the aging of baby boomers, specialists say.

''Even though the Labor Department says we were never supposed to get overtime anyway, most nurses want the practice to continue,'' said Melinda Mercer Ray, a registered nurse and a spokeswoman for the Association of Women's Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses in Washington. ''It is expected in our profession. But there is real fear out there that, if hospitals can find a way not to pay overtime in this tight fiscal environment, some might try to avoid it.''

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I am confused.... hospitals NOW don't have to give us overtime but they do???? I thought we HAD to get overtime and this bill would change that???? I am not quite sure what this law would mean to us then? If they don't have to pay us overtime now, but do - do they also now have the ability to FORCE manadatory overtime but don't? Anyone out there know the details of this?

Thanks!

AMV · Jul 18, 2003

Sorry - the link didn't come out right.... hope this one works!

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/191/business/Nation_s_nurses_lobby_to_protect_overtime_pay+.shtml

Riseupandnurse · Jul 18, 2003

I am really confused about what all this will mean. Do hospitals currently have to pay nurses overtime, or do they not have to and do it anyway to get nurses to work extra? And I read somewhere that the new laws would allow the hospitals to declare all RNs salaried employees, and therefore would just get a salary for working however many hours a week they had to in order to take care of the number of patients that happen to be in their facilities each week. Does anyone have a really clear idea as to what this new legislation would mean for the typical hospital RN? If so, please share. Thanks!!!!

ucandoit · Jul 21, 2003

I, too, will sign on the dotted line!