Maine GOP Legislators Looking To Loosen Child Labor Laws: Lower minimum wage to $5.25 1st 180 days

[1776Forever]

Maine GOP Legislators Looking To Loosen Child Labor Laws
Amanda Terkel
First Posted: 03/30/11 04:59 PM ET Updated: 03/30/11 05:43 PM ET

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/30/maine-gop-legislators-loo_n_842563.html

WASHINGTON -- Far from places like Ohio and Wisconsin, Maine has become a new battleground in the labor fight. Gov. Paul LePage (R) recently sparked the anger of the union community by ordering a mural depicting workers throughout the state's history removed from the Department of Labor. Now, Republican members of the state legislature are attempting to loosen child labor laws that the community fought hard to put into place.

The minimum wage in Maine is $7.50 an hour, and there is no training or subminimum wage for students. But under a new piece of legislation introduced in the state's House of Representatives, employers would be able to pay anyone under the age of 20 as little as $5.25 an hour for their first 180 days on the job.

(more at link)
..........

Child labor laws now in jeopardy - What's next?

[Gman]

1. What's next?

the 8 hour day.

[3waygeek]

2. For those of us on salary...

the eight-hour day went away decades ago. I average 10 hours, and sometimes go as high as 14. It's been that way as long as I've been in the software biz (24 years).

[Gman]

5. AT&T, a unionized company

has many managers that do not fit the legal definition of a manager thereby exempting them from overtime and, for that matter even legally mandated breaks after 5 hours.

[midnight]

3. The Unions have been battling these thugs for years....

Now we are going to get a dose of what they have been trying to hang on.....

[mrmpa]

4. They'll be let go after 180 days & then told to reapply...

the Post office used to (they might still) have 90 day appointments. After 90 you were gone & had to reapply. Sometimes the boss didn't pay attention, and you worked that 91st day-you were a full hire.

[Scuba]

6. Here's what's next...