Labor Law question (Payroll Fraud?) URGENT

[Imran Siddiqui]

Uh... che... that's 'involuntary servitude' (as also stated in the 13th Amendment). That's what people are charged with in this country these days, not 'slavery'

[chequita guevara]

that's semantics

[Imran Siddiqui]

It's only semantics when Kuci shows you were wrong?

[Kuciwalker]

That whole in the U.S. part seems to have escaped you.

No. Reread the 13th amendment.

[Kuciwalker]

And what Imran said.

[SpencerH]

"cadillac health plans" Wazzat??? A health plan that actually delivers health care?

Top of the line health care plans that are paid for by the employer. It's essentially untaxed income and there is a plan to tax them in the proposed health care bill. Two groups tend to have such plans big-time execs and big unions. Since most of these plans are valued at levels above the limits set forth in the new health care bill, many union members will be hit with new taxes which triggered Rockefelers immediate opposition to the bill.

[Zkribbler]

You think they give nothing back in return for the union contributions? Sen Rockefeller just 'axed' the dems health bill. Why? Because union members stand to lose the most from taxes to their high priced 'cadillac health plans.

As the former 6th-largest annual contributor to the PAC of the largest union in the AFL-CIO, I know that of which I speak.

The MOST large campaign contributions will get you is access. I could ususally [not always] get a meeting with a legislator or at least a top aide in order to pitch whatever I was lobbying for. After making the pitch, sometimes I'd get the legislator's support.

And remember, these were almost always pro-union legislators I was lobbying.

My worst day: For decades I knew this lady. She was a friend of a friend before I went to law school, and we were friendly too. Then she began teaching at law school, and I was one of her top students. I later supported her run from the Assembly and then for the Senate.

I had a bill critical for my local coming up before her sub-committee. She voted "no." She would not change if for anything. Her reasoning: "I just don't like it." [Luckily, we got a Republican to vote for it. Unluckily, Schwartenegger later vetoed it. )

In my experience, legislators cannot be bought. The most you can do is support someone who has a political outlook close to your own and hope that later on they support your issues.

[David Floyd]

True. The best union in the world could never attract members by itself. It's oppressive tactics by managment which drives workers to join unions.

That's so true. Union are by and large bad for workers these days. Management screws itself by making unions seem to be the better alternative.

[Zkribbler]

That's so true. Union are by and large bad for workers these days.

Au contraire. Unions are good for workers these days because for decades management has been taught to screw the workers whenever possible in order to maximize short-term profits, and because Republican'ts have been systematically dismantling the protections previously gained.

It is bad management that recruits workers for unions. If management were treating workers fairly, then unions would have no raison d'etre.

[ramseya]

To give you an update... i waited a few weeks as the violations continued. Over the last week, I've been photographing my punches at the time clock (though I wish I had been doing this previously). I am not going to get much OT this week (about 2-3 hours), however, so they may be willing to pay me OT. Hopefully, they'll still edit my times so I can have more evidence.

I contacted the Dept. of Labor and they interviewed me and sent me a statement to sign. They also sent me a statement which would authorize a representative of the wage and hour division to use my name and information in my statement to enforce my rights under law.. "the authorization form is giving me [the rep] permission to use your name when an attempt is made to collect the wages owed". I am hesitant to do so because then my boss will know that it's me and I will be fired or, if they realize that PA has a whistleblower law on the books, they'll come up with a BS reason to fire me regardless. I have a plan for this, however, but I would prefer if they don't know that I am the one... plus I care less for my hours and more for the fact that this practice is prevalent and I want these people to lose their jobs. maybe I mis-understood what I was doing but I thought this would become more wide-spread than just me?

[ramseya]

anybody? am I just going to get my hours owed and then get promptly fired or will more happen?

[Wezil]

I am hesitant to do so because then my boss will know that it's me and I will be fired or, if they realize that PA has a whistleblower law on the books, they'll come up with a BS reason to fire me regardless.

Use the name of a co-worker that is also getting shorted.

[rah]

If they come up with a BS reason to fire you, there's no way you won't win if you challenge it.

[ramseya]

or they could keep me but make my working life hell... that's another problem. I'm starting to think I shouldn't send this in and withdraw my complaint. If I knew that my complaint would lead to them getting fired then that would be different but I can't work for the same people with them knowing that I went to the Dept. of Labor on them.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ask if you can report them anonymously.