CONTACTS: Linda Rozett/Jamal Ware
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Thursday, June 5, 2003

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce today pledged to continue the fight to give workers the option to spend more time with their families.  The announcement came following a House decision to reschedule a vote on the Family Time Flexibility Act, H.R. 1119.
 
“Union leadership may have scored a short-term political victory, but it comes at the expense of those rank and file employees who want the voluntary choices provided by this bill,” said Randel Johnson, Chamber vice president for Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits.

“Workers in search of more paid time off to spend with their families are on the losing end of the political games being played by union leaders over this bill.  This, and other leadership policies such as opposing greater disclosure on how they spend member dues, might explain why union membership has steadily declined to well below nine percent in the private sector.”

 

H.R. 1119 amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to allow private sector employers to offer their workers a voluntary choice between overtime wages or extra paid time off.  This is a choice that has worked well in the public sector for years.  Just as with overtime payments, paid time off would accrue at a rate of 1.5 hours for each hour of overtime worked.

 

The bill contains numerous protections, including strong enforcement provisions, to ensure that an employee’s choice of overtime wages or extra paid time off is truly voluntary.  Notably, the bill also “sunsets” after five years.  Because Congress will have to vote again to extend the program, there will be ample opportunity to revisit and correct any problems that might arise.

“At a time where workers are looking for more options from employers, it’s sad union leaders would stand in the way of giving workers choices,” Johnson added.

 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

 

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