Post by bot on May 22, 2004 23:52:10 GMT -5
From The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/5/04:
www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+County/88D2F6BBD7F9F73386256E12006B799A?OpenDocument&Headline=Labor+criticizes+Bush+policies
Labor criticizes Bush policies
By DOUG MOORE
Post-Dispatch
Billboards criticizing a plan to revamp federal law regarding overtime
pay have been put alongside the route President George W. Bush is
expected to take this afternoon when he visits St. Louis.
The Greater St. Louis Labor Council had one sign placed on Interstate
70 near the Interstate 270 exchange, and another on I-70, near the
McKinley Bridge, just north of downtown.
A third billboard was put up on Interstate 55 in south St. Louis
County.
At a press conference at City Hall this morning, Bob Soutier,
secretary-treasurer of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council, said up to
8 million workers would lose their overtime.
"We cannot turn a blind eye toward the Bush administration while they
turn back the clock on wages and benefit protections for American
workers," Soutier said.
"When the Bush motorcade goes by our billboards today, I hope all on
board think long and hard about the question we ask: 'Why, Mr.
President?'"
The billboards declare:
"The Bush Agenda - Millions to Lose Overtime Pay. Why, Mr. President?"
The signs are referring to a Labor Department plan to change federal
laws governing overtime.
The proposal would increase the number of lower- income workers who
would qualify for overtime pay after working 40 hours a week but bar
the extra pay for most white- collar workers who earn more than
$65,000 a year.
The Bush administration says the changes would make overtime available
for about 1.3 million lower-paid workers who now don't get it and
eliminate overtime for roughly 640,000 workers who now do receive it.
The national AFL-CIO is pressuring Congress to block the proposed
changes to federal labor laws.
The House has gone along with the administration's proposal, while the
Senate is slated to vote later this month.
Bush is expected to visit Laclede Elementary in north St. Louis about
2 p.m. to talk about the No Child Left Behind law, which holds schools
accountable for improving test scores and provides stiff penalties for
schools that fall short.
Laclede has some of the highest test scores in the state.
Later, Bush will head to America's Center for a fund-raiser.
Labor groups are expected to protest outside the downtown convention
center beginning at 5 p.m.
www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+County/88D2F6BBD7F9F73386256E12006B799A?OpenDocument&Headline=Labor+criticizes+Bush+policies
Labor criticizes Bush policies
By DOUG MOORE
Post-Dispatch
Billboards criticizing a plan to revamp federal law regarding overtime
pay have been put alongside the route President George W. Bush is
expected to take this afternoon when he visits St. Louis.
The Greater St. Louis Labor Council had one sign placed on Interstate
70 near the Interstate 270 exchange, and another on I-70, near the
McKinley Bridge, just north of downtown.
A third billboard was put up on Interstate 55 in south St. Louis
County.
At a press conference at City Hall this morning, Bob Soutier,
secretary-treasurer of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council, said up to
8 million workers would lose their overtime.
"We cannot turn a blind eye toward the Bush administration while they
turn back the clock on wages and benefit protections for American
workers," Soutier said.
"When the Bush motorcade goes by our billboards today, I hope all on
board think long and hard about the question we ask: 'Why, Mr.
President?'"
The billboards declare:
"The Bush Agenda - Millions to Lose Overtime Pay. Why, Mr. President?"
The signs are referring to a Labor Department plan to change federal
laws governing overtime.
The proposal would increase the number of lower- income workers who
would qualify for overtime pay after working 40 hours a week but bar
the extra pay for most white- collar workers who earn more than
$65,000 a year.
The Bush administration says the changes would make overtime available
for about 1.3 million lower-paid workers who now don't get it and
eliminate overtime for roughly 640,000 workers who now do receive it.
The national AFL-CIO is pressuring Congress to block the proposed
changes to federal labor laws.
The House has gone along with the administration's proposal, while the
Senate is slated to vote later this month.
Bush is expected to visit Laclede Elementary in north St. Louis about
2 p.m. to talk about the No Child Left Behind law, which holds schools
accountable for improving test scores and provides stiff penalties for
schools that fall short.
Laclede has some of the highest test scores in the state.
Later, Bush will head to America's Center for a fund-raiser.
Labor groups are expected to protest outside the downtown convention
center beginning at 5 p.m.