Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sen. Bernie Sanders introduces legislative proposal for 32-hour workweek: Would require overtime pay at time-and-a-half for work days longer than 8 hours
UPI via MSN ^ | 03/15/2024 | Ehren Wynder

Posted on 03/15/2024 8:02:41 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has proposed a bill to reduce the 40-hour workweek to 32.

Sanders on Thursday introduced the Thirty Two Hour Workweek Act to establish a standard 32-hour workweek with no loss of pay.

He is supported in the Senate by Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., and in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., who introduced the legislation.

Sanders, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on Thursday led the committee in a hearing introducing the act.

"Today in America, 28.5 million Americans -- 18% of our workforce -- now work over 60 hours a week, and 40% of employees in America now work at least 50 hours a week," Sanders said in his opening remarks. "We were talking about a 40-hour workweek 80 years ago, and that is what people today, despite the explosion of technology, are working."

The act also would require overtime pay at time-and-a-half for work days longer than eight hours and overtime pay at double a worker's regular pay if they go above 12 hours.

Workers also would have their pay and benefits protected even in a reduction in the workweek, under the proposal.

Sanders has argued that the concept of moving to a 32-hour workweek is not radical, noting that the United States overwhelmingly passed legislation to establish a 30-hour maximum work week in 1933, although the measure did not make it into the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The Fair Labor Standards Act signed into law in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the 40-hour workweek standard.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: berniesanders; workweek
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last
Here's Bernie Sander's justification for his proposal:

"Unbelievably, 84 years later, despite massive growth in technology and worker productivity, millions of workers in our country are working longer hours for lower wages," Sanders said, noting 18% of the U.S. workforce works over 60 hours a week, and 40% work at least 50 hours a week.

With the rapid incorporation of artificial intelligence in many facets of the job sector, Sanders predicted many jobs people have today will not be around in 15 years.

"The question that we are asking today is a pretty simple question -- do we continue the trend that technology only benefits the people on top, or that we demand that these transformational changes also benefits working people? And one of these benefits must be a 32-hour work week," he said.

1 posted on 03/15/2024 8:02:41 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I can’t believe a commie punk who never worked a day in his life is worried about the length of a work week. He’s never worked one.


2 posted on 03/15/2024 8:06:04 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Could a "caravan" of freeloading U.S. citizens be able to make it into Mexico before they are shot?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

This is so stupid. Who paid for the tech that makes workers more productive? How expensive is that tech?

Sadly, these two simple questions are beyond the average American’s ability to reason.


3 posted on 03/15/2024 8:06:54 AM PDT by brownsfan (It's going to take real, serious, hard times to wake the American public.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Leftists are entirely ignorant of elementary economics.


4 posted on 03/15/2024 8:07:02 AM PDT by Blurb2350 (posted from my 1500-watt blow dryer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer

Bernie is just wanting to give Americans more time to learn to play the ukulele and stock up on toilet paper.


5 posted on 03/15/2024 8:08:51 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Could a "caravan" of freeloading U.S. citizens be able to make it into Mexico before they are shot?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Even Venezuela does not have a 32 hour work week. The senator from Venezuela should know that.


6 posted on 03/15/2024 8:09:35 AM PDT by chuckee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer

“ I can’t believe a commie punk who never worked a day in his life is worried about the length of a work week. He’s never worked one.”

Bernie is the ultimate example of a human parasite.


7 posted on 03/15/2024 8:09:36 AM PDT by wjcsux (On 3/14/1883 Karl Marx gave humanity his best gift, he died. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Sanders might mean well, but having to hold two jobs is often impossible due to transport and scheduling issues.

Nobody but the worker coughs up for the time and transit fare to get from a first job to a second job.

Overtime pay should be a matter between the employer and the worker or his/her union.

If the rent is $1500/month and the pay is $15/hour, it takes over 25 hours of work a week just to cover the housing overhead.


8 posted on 03/15/2024 8:12:20 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Blurb2350

80% of Americans are ... that’s why we have the representatives that we do ...


9 posted on 03/15/2024 8:12:49 AM PDT by bankwalker (Repeal the 19th ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

In other words prospective employers are now going to be forced to hire part-time subcontractors and pay them nothing like the pie in the sky Bernie is dreaming about...


10 posted on 03/15/2024 8:12:51 AM PDT by Clutch Martin ("The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right." )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Just a few damn days ago, PINO Drooling Spoon was bitching about “shrinkflation”. Someone might want to tell this old commie queen that this is exactly what he’s proposing on the American workforce: less in return but for the same pay.


11 posted on 03/15/2024 8:13:34 AM PDT by LittleBillyInfidel (This tagline has been formatted to fit the screen. Some content has been edited.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Hey Bernie,

Keep your filthy, corrupt, never-worked a day in your life- hands OFF of OUR businesses!


12 posted on 03/15/2024 8:14:00 AM PDT by joethedrummer (We can't vote our way out of this, folks..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind; Publius

Ping!.................


13 posted on 03/15/2024 8:15:05 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Has zero chance of becoming law. Just the Dems pandering to the lowest common denominator.


14 posted on 03/15/2024 8:16:06 AM PDT by rbg81
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Look, Mr. Worker, your paycheck is the same.

Look, Senator Sanders, almost everything is 25% more expensive.

Well, look on the bright side for me and other Democratic politicians, there are jobs for Uncle Joe’s “newcomers”.


15 posted on 03/15/2024 8:19:48 AM PDT by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer
"I can’t believe a commie punk who never worked a day in his life is worried about the length of a work week. He’s never worked one."
THAT!
16 posted on 03/15/2024 8:21:31 AM PDT by small farm girl (My pronouns are who and cares)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

It’s time to show Bernie his utopia. Every business should be open 8 hours per day and be closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Every business!

No grocery stores, transportation, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries, salons, utilities, banks, gas stations, police stations, prison guards, secret service, personal bodyguards, parks, toll booths, weed shops. EVERYTHING!

9-5 four days a week. Think of all of the good times to be had by everyone on the 3 day weekend.

What a baffoon.

EC


17 posted on 03/15/2024 8:22:37 AM PDT by Ex-Con777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer

We need a $500 an hour minimum wage! Then everybody has money.

#ThereFixedIt!


18 posted on 03/15/2024 8:34:21 AM PDT by FiddlePig (The greatest threat to our sacred liberty is to not value it!””)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Any factory/production business would have to hire additional shifts. A CNC mill or other machinery doesn’t break even operating minimal hours. You drop 1/4 million on a piece of high end machinery you need it running full time.


19 posted on 03/15/2024 8:34:53 AM PDT by BBQToadRibs2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
Today in America, 28.5 million Americans -- 18% of our workforce -- now work over 60 hours a week, and 40% of employees in America now work at least 50 hours a week

How many of these are salaried employees, and will they work fewer hours if this incredibly stupid legislation passes? I know that when I was working on salary, or on a daily consulting rate, the length of the workweek was completely irrelevant. The work had to be accomplished.

Employees of the businesses that will have to close if this law is passed will find themselves with a workweek of zero hours.

20 posted on 03/15/2024 8:36:54 AM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson