First Roberts court rulings unanimous

[Bill McBlueState]

It pisses me off that three times on the page, this gets presented as a "defeat for business." "Victory for people" would be more accurate. (Although I must admit, I don't really get the second decision, based on the limited info here.)

From cnn.com:

First Roberts court rulings unanimous

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday that companies must pay plant workers for the time it takes to change into protective clothing and walk to their work stations.

The issue was one of two that justices settled in a pair of unanimous decisions, the first rulings under the leadership of Chief Justice John Roberts in the new fall term. Roberts did not write either one.

In a defeat for business, the court said that while employers aren't required to pay workers for time spent changing clothes, they must pay for the donning of "integral" gear and the time it takes workers to then walk to the production area.

...

In a second ruling, the justices said the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals should reconsider whether federal officials can be sued for negligence over an accident in an Arizona copper mine.

...

full story http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/11/08/scotus.workers.ap/index.html">here

[yellowcanine]

1. Seems like a no-brainer. Why did it go to SCOTUS at all?

[napi21]

4. Why did it go to the SCOTUS? Because processing plants

like this one and all others are hell holes to work in, and the people who run them strive to get every last second of work out of their employees! I'm SURE Tyson and all the other processors are really pissed about this!

Remember, it was a chicken processing plant in NC (I think) that was severly fined when some employees died in a fire because they couldn't escape. The company had barred all the exit doors so nobody could sneak outside during working hours!

[yellowcanine]

7. I know that. But didn't the lower courts rule against the employer? If

so, the SCOTUS should have let it stand without comment. If not, why not, as it seems like a no brainer? Of course the time it takes to put on protective gear is work time and should receive compensation.

[shantipriya]

5. SCOTUS

I agree with you. What an example of moral bankruptcy on the part of employers !!!!

[TheFarseer]

2. That seems like a simple one to me

Anyone voting for the businesses in that one should be thrown into a vat of toxic sludge with cement shoes on.

[yellowcanine]

8. Heh. Don't you think the cement shoes are a little harsh?

[scarlett1]

3. I was a Nurse for 10 years

I worked in an area that required scrubs be worn (Maternity)
The policy was changing from street clothes to scrubs was on the Clock. Our Head Nurse told the nurses to change then clock out or clock in then change. There was a 15 minute limit on that. So they weren't paying overtime for someone truly not working, but changing clothes was part of the job.

[Zynx]

6. Okay, so the Supreme Court is not pure evil.

That's good.

[4_Legs_Good]

9. I'm holding my breath on Roberts...

He may not be quite as bad as all that.

Not holding it for Alito, though.

david