Senator Murray Stands Up for Middle Class Washingtonians, Fights to Get Workers Overtime Pay They Have Earned

Senator Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate labor committee, reintroduced the Restoring Overtime Pay Act, which would restore overtime pay increases for thousands of Washingtonians

The bill would make more than 4.5 million more middle class workers across the country eligible for overtime pay 

Trump Administration’s abandonment of Obama overtime rule costs Washington state workers more than $25 million each year 

Senator Murray: “While the Trump Administration continues to put corporations and billionaires ahead of working families, I’m proud to introduce the Restoring Overtime Pay Act to provide a much-needed update to our nation’s overtime rules and give millions of families the financial security they need”

(Washington, D.C.)  – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate labor committee, defended middle class workers’ ability to receive paid overtime by reintroducing the Restoring Overtime Pay Act, which would increase the overtime salary level from $23,660 per year to about $51,000 per year, making roughly 4.6 million workers newly eligible for overtime pay. The bill re-instates the Obama Administration’s 2016 overtime rule that has since been undermined by the Trump administration. The Trump Administration’s abandonment of the Obama overtime rule has been devastating for Washington state families, costing Washington state workers more than $25 million in lost wages each year.

“Millions of workers put in more than 40 hours a week and are still unable to makes ends meet and support their families,” said Senator Murray. “While the Trump Administration continues to put corporations and billionaires ahead of working families, I’m proud to introduce the Restoring Overtime Pay Act to provide a much-needed update to our nation’s overtime rules and give millions of families the financial security they need.”

Senator Murray has consistently fought for workers, recently introducing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen protections for workers’ right to organize a union and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. Senator Murray also denounced the Trump administrations lower proposed overtime threshold, which would leave out millions of workers.