State Overtime Work Rules Challenged

Re “Stance on Overtime Dooms Nomination,” March 18:

It appears that the working people of America are again under attack. Gov. Pete Wilson and his supporters distract the people with idle talk about “illegal immigrants” and “affirmative action.” Meanwhile they are systematically dismantling the very system that has not only protected the working class, but has been the way for those people to move into the middle class as well. This is not just happening on the state level, but on the national level as well.

There was a time when overtime pay was unheard of. These were the days of unsafe factories, contaminated food, company stores and child labor. There was no unemployment insurance, Social Security, minimum wage, no disability insurance, no workers’ compensation, no unions, no 40-hour week or eight-hour day--nothing! You were at the total mercy of your boss. Simply put, the conservative agenda is all about destroying the reforms made by President Roosevelt’s New Deal.

You had better think hard about the world you want to leave to our children--assuming you even care.

STERLING R. MARCHER

Riverside

The Assn. of Textile Dyers, Printers and Finishers of Southern California--the nuts and bolts and the voice of the garment industry in Southern California--supports the effort to reform California’s inflexible overtime rules to allow overtime compensation to be paid on the basis of a 40-hour week rather than an eight-hour day.

We employ an estimated 15,000 workers. Our industry, when combined with the garment industry, employs an estimated 130,000 workers, and we are growing. Changing the current law will create a more flexible work schedule for our employees and will keep us competitive with the 47 states where the federal overtime standard prevails. Conformation with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act will have a positive impact on job retention in Southern California.

For these reasons we support overtime reform and see it as a win-win situation for employees and employers.

BILL TENENBLATT

President, Assn. of Textile

Dyers, Printers and Finishers

Los Angeles