By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – As President Bush visited St. Louis Monday, labor leaders and other activists protested an administration proposal on overtime pay.
The plan would let employers reclassify some workers as having a position of responsibility, and make them ineligible for overtime.
Bob Soutier, with the Greater St. Louis Labor Council, said the rule change would shrink paychecks and hurt working families.
"Millions of salaried workers making between $22,000 and $65,000 who are now eligible to receive overtime pay would be reclassified as executives, administrative, or professional employees, and would no longer qualify for overtime pay," Soutier said.
Supporters of the measure say it could make more than a million low-wage workers eligible for overtime.
The Labor Department plans to issue final rule changes by the end of March.