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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Overtime Proposal Would Add Protections for More Oregon Workers

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Thursday, July 9, 2015   

SALEM, Ore. – Working more than 40 hours a week without overtime pay is a fact of life for millions of salaried employees, but it's a fact the U.S. Department of Labor wants to change.

A proposal to extend overtime benefits to salaried workers making up to about $50,000 a year is up for public comment starting this week.

Charlie Burr, communications director for the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), says the new rule appears to align with current Oregon law, but it would expand the number of people eligible for overtime pay.

"At this point, we are just watching the process very closely,” he states. “We think it has great potential to help Oregon workers. We don't have plans to formally weigh in, but we are closely following it."

Right now, only workers salaried at up to about $24,000 a year are guaranteed overtime pay.

Burr says overtime questions are among the most common BOLI receives, from workers and companies. He says small employers in particular can find the overtime pay laws confusing. BOLI has a hotline (971-673-0844) to help address their questions.

The rule, an update to the Fair Labor Standards Act, is expected to affect more women and people of color.

The proposal is already receiving strong opposition from some retail and restaurant industry groups. But Kim Bobo, founding director of Interfaith Worker Justice, points out there are many positives.

"It's good for workers in terms of their family time, that a lot of folks won't be working these ridiculously long hours, and it's good for workers in terms of pay," she stresses.

The National Retail Federation has warned that some managers may be demoted from salary to hourly wages so employers can avoid the change.

While 11 million workers would qualify under the new rule, the Labor Department estimates only about 5 million would see bigger paychecks.




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