Governor's Aid Proposes Raising the Minimum Wage But Limiting Overtime PayA Republican lawyer who works as legal counsel to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has filed an initiative that would raise the minimum wage – while ending overtime after an eight-hour day. At the same time, the proposed measure, called The Fair Pay Act, would make it harder for lawmakers in the future to raise the minimum wage further. It would also limit overtime for managers and for employees earning more than $100,000 a year. Thomas Hiltachk filed the “Fair Pay Workplace Flexibility Act of 2006” with the Attorney General on Feb. 10. If it makes it to the ballot and is passed by voters, the state’s minimum wage would rise from the current $6.75 to $7.75 a year later. The proposal would raise the hurdle to increase the minimum wage in the future by requiring 2/3 of the legislature to approve the move. Under the initiative, workers could agree with employers to work up to a 10-hour work day without receiving overtime pay until they have worked past a 40-hour work week. “It’s a pretty in-your-face attempt to take away daily overtime protections,” said Angie Wei, legislative director with the California Labor Federation. In addition to three minimum wage initiatives, voters will also see other workplace-related measurers this fall. 2-24 |