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Payne Votes NO on GOP's "Work More, Pay Less" Act

May 8, 2013

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) released the following statement after voting NO on H.R. 1406, the Working Families Flexibility Act:

“Today, Republicans passed their misleadingly named ‘Working Families Flexibility Act,’ or what is more aptly named the ‘More Work, Less Pay’ Act, since it is the last thing working mothers and middle class families need right now. The GOP bill is a far cry from resembling anything that is worker or family-friendly as it directly attacks 40-hour work week protections, eliminates all work time flexibility, and reduces wages to our workers by trading overtime for comp time pay.

“In an already fragile economy where workers fear being replaced every single day, the GOP bill magnifies the power given to employers by pressuring employees to work longer hours for less pay. If the Republicans have their way, employers will be able refuse any and all requests by an employee to take time off to pick up a sick child from school or attend a parent-teacher conference while also having the authority to tell an employee to go home without pay when business is slow. Working families rely on their time-and-a-half of overtime pay to live, yet this bill steals that overtime and gives what amounts to an interest-free loan to the employer paid for by the workers’ wages.

“This bill is simply another ideological assault on workers’ rights and an attempt to eliminate the forty-hour work week protections and overtime pay. Congress should give hardworking moms a real Mother’s Day gift by passing a bill that would increase the minimum wage, expand the Family Medical Leave Act, and provide paid sick leave to give working families the real flexibility and wages they need to be productive at work and take care of their families at home.”

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