File photo: Learfield
A union official says a federal court ruling blocking new overtime rules will likely hurt a large number of Wisconsin workers.
The rule that was set to take effect next month would have raised the threshold for salaried workers to be paid overtime to just under $48,000 – almost double the current amount.
Wisconsin AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Stephanie Bloomingdale says the decision to block the change is a major disappointment. “This is going to hurt millions of workers and delay what should have been done a long time ago,” she argues.
Critics have argued the higher pay could force employers to reduce staff or cut hours. Bloomingdale downplays that possibility, arguing business interests are more focused on reducing the regulations they face. “That’s just not reasonable,” she says.
Wisconsin was one of 21 states that filed the federal lawsuit.