Overtime Bill Moves On Pt 1
I’m Bob Larson. Originally intended to help ag employers, then changed to charge those employers for a farm-crushing three years back overtime pay, has now done another reversal.
Senate Bill 5172, that phases in overtime pay over the next three years and shields ag employers from retroactive overtime lawsuits, passed last week and now moves on to the House.
The Washington Policy Center’s Initiative on Ag Director, Pam Lewison says it’s a relief …
LEWISON … “I think it surprised everybody in the best way possible. It’s like when you beg your parents for that puppy at Christmas and suddenly you get it. Maybe it’s not the Labrador you wanted, you got the Poodle instead, but it’s still a puppy.”
Lewison says moving to the House could be a good thing …
LEWISON … “I think the key thing about the bill that passed is that it keeps the hope of perfecting it alive, and that’s sort of the message I’ve been trying to put out there.”
Passage of the bill, Lewison says gives us more time …
LEWISON … “It gives us a chance to go back and keep working on it instead of leaving our fate to an innumerable number of lawsuits. So, this gives us a hand in the decision making and sort of helps us do our own fate a little bit.”
Tune in tomorrow for more on this ag overtime legislation and what we can all do to help the cause.
