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ESA News Release: [08/18/2004] Contact Name: Pamela
Groover Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Addresses Fraternal
Order of Police in Willoughby, Ohio
Labor Secretary Highlights Benefits of New
Overtime Security Rule for First Responders
Willoughby, OhioThe
Fraternal Order of Police in Willoughby, Ohio today welcomed U.S. Secretary of
Labor Elaine L. Chaos remarks about the proposed overtime reforms due to
take effect on Aug. 23, 2004. Secretary Chao told the group that the new
Overtime Security Rule will
guarantee that more police, other first responders and millions of hard-working
Americans receive overtime pay for their work.
For the first time in history, the overtime rights of law
enforcement officers on the front linesas well as firefighters,
paramedics, emergency medical technicians and public safety employeesare strengthened, said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L.
Chao. With these new rules, workers will clearly know their rights,
employers will know their responsibilities and the department can more
vigorously enforce the law. This Administrationwhich has set new records
for aggressive Wage and Hour enforcementwill have strong new standards in
place to better protect workers pay.
The new rules expand the number of workers eligible for overtime by
nearly tripling the salary threshold. Under the 50-year-old regulations,
workers earning up to $8,060 annually were guaranteed overtime. Under the new
Overtime Security Rule,
workers earning up to $23,660 are guaranteed overtime. The new rule strengthens
overtime protection for 6.7 million low-wage salaried workers, including 1.3
million salaried white collar workers who were not entitled to overtime pay
under the old regulations. Workers are expected to gain up to $375 million in
additional earnings every year as a result of the new
Overtime Security Rule.
To provide even stronger overtime protection for workers, the
Departments Overtime Security Rule ensures that hourly workers,
police officers and other first responders including firefighters, paramedics,
emergency medical technicians, blue collar workers, licensed practical nurses
and more are entitled to overtime protection.
Thank you for your commitment and hard work, for keeping your
fellow citizens safe and for building a more secure nation, Secretary
Chao added. You are there for usnow we are there for you.
The final rule was published in the Federal Register on April 23,
2004 and will go into effect on Aug. 23, 2004. The text version is available
online at www.dol.gov/fairpay. For
further information about the Fair Labor Standards Act, visit the
Departments Wage and Hour Division web page at
www.dol.gov. Press contact for the F.O.P. is
Chris Granberg (202)547-8189.
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