They May Possibly Take Away Overtime Pay

Candycap · Mar 15, 2004

I heard about this, in fact someone here in Louisiana is working on a Union for Nurses because a union is protected from this overtime pay rule.

Candycap

I wanted to copy this onto the general nursing discussion because I thinkit is important to get the word out. I apologize if you are seeing this twice. Please everyone take a minute and read the attached article and click a letter to your senator, it takes very little time! You can write your own letter, edit the one already provided, or add your name to the bottom of the letter, doesn't matter just as long as you send it. Congress is possibly going to get away with this, taking away overtime pay for nurses.
This is from the AACN...
Action Alert: Use Your Voice to Block Overtime Pay Exclusion
Congressional attempts to block U.S. Department of Labor regulations that
would deny overtime pay for millions of American workers, including nurses,
failed when the Senate gave final approval to an omnibus appropriations
bill (HR 2673). AACN will continue to work with other nursing
organizations and members of Congress to contest these regulations and
support workers' rights to overtime pay. You can help by contacting your
congressional representatives and President Bush to express your
disappointment that the proposed overtime regulations remained and how
important overtime pay is to you. Go to
http://capwiz.com/criticalcare/mail...alertid=5137526

Candycap · Mar 15, 2004

The ruling has already been passed and has been brought back into the house this month for hopeful revisions, but it doesn't look too hopeful at this time. Economists are predicting that the effects of this ruling will be seen as early as September of this year. This is really scary. I know I will give up nursing before I will be dictated to. I refuse to work XXX amount of hours per week without overtime pay. I refuse to be forced to stay over my shift or have to work on my days off. :coollook: Someone here in Louisiana is working on forming a union for nurses because with the union the overtime ruling will not matter. If there are any Louisiana nurses out there this is the phone I was given for any interested parties for forming a union in Louisiana 985-878-4576.

Candycap

Sheri257 · Mar 15, 2004

Yet another reason to work for the unionized hospital in my area when I graduate. Their contract guarantees overtime pay.

I don't think the public really understands what's going on. But when they lose their overtime pay, I bet they'll pay attention then.

Candycap · Mar 15, 2004

Lizz,

I'm really scared and concerned because I'm in Louisiana, someone here is trying to form a union for our nurses. I do hope they succeed, for this is the only protection we will have from this overtime ruling. :rolleyes: If there are any Louisiana nurses reading this I was given this phone number to contact about a union in Louisiana 985-878-4576. Call if you're interested in forming a union and protecting our rights.

-jt · Mar 15, 2004

Thats not exactly correct. With a union, the contract with the employer does stipulate overtime pay for overtime and how much it will be - time & a half, double time or whatever - but that comes with negotiations. Its not automatic. The only protection unionized workers will have from the changes in the labor law will be that their CURRENT contracts already stipulate for overtime pay. The problem will come when those contracts are up for renewal. Once the laws change, the employers will try to get overtime pay written out of subsequent union contracts. You can be sure they will fight to get rid of overtime pay clauses if the law backs them. There are no protections or guarantees that unionized workers will be able to keep overtime pay in their contracts. The only difference is that unionized workers can fight to keep it, can take job actions, and even strike to get the employer to agree to continue overtime pay in spite of the law change. Otherwise, as contracts come up for renewal after the law changes, we'll be in the same boat as everybody else. Cops, firemen, nurses, everybody.

Sheri257 · Mar 15, 2004

Once the laws change, the employers will try to get overtime pay written out of subsequent contracts. The only difference is that unionized workers can take job actions and even strike to get the employer to agree to continue overtime in spite of the law change. Otherwise, we'll be in the same boat as everybody else. Cops, firemen, nurses, everybody.

Good point. Luckily in California, demand has been so high that the Calfiornia Nurses Association has been pretty effective in getting these provisions into their contracts. They haven't had to strike in most cases.

But you're right. The true test will come AFTER the law is in effect.