Statement by Edward J. McElroy,
President of the American Federation of Teachers,
on the Bush Administration’s Final Changes to Overtime Regulations

Washington, D.C.—The Bush administration is forcing millions of workers to take a pay cut as a result of its new rules that take effect today denying overtime pay for extra work—a right previously guaranteed by the Fair Labor Standards Act. Instead of helping Americans who are still looking for jobs, the Bush administration has given employers another reason not to hire new employees, while requiring current workers to work overtime without receiving fair compensation.

For healthcare professionals, these changes are particularly disturbing. Research shows a link between excessive overtime and an increased number of medical errors. With overtime pay eliminated, hospitals and other healthcare providers have little incentive to end mandatory overtime and hire more staff to ensure safe staffing levels and improve the quality of patient care.

And child care workers face a similarly bleak future. While appreciation of early childhood education is rising, child care workers are one of the lowest paid occupations surveyed by the Labor Department and also stand to lose their right to overtime because of the Bush administration’s new regulations.

At a time when Americans are dealing with economic policies that have left them with lower wages, double-digit increases in healthcare costs and less job security, we need an administration that will protect workers’ rights and their economic well-being, rather than shortchange them.

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