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@Mitchell_AB @MichelletypoQ
A few weeks back I did a short thread about an Oklahoma class action suit.
Overtime pay was the topic. It’s directly relevant to this conversation.
Gentlemanly agreements are employers weapons. Without explicit legal rights, workers have no options
A few weeks back I did a short thread about an Oklahoma class action suit.
Overtime pay was the topic. It’s directly relevant to this conversation.
Gentlemanly agreements are employers weapons. Without explicit legal rights, workers have no options
In Oklahoma, oil is also a mainstay of the economy. They also took a hit when the price of oil crashed.
Unions are unwelcome in Oklahoma. Most wage workers are not union represented. But there are Labour laws that still provide some protection.
Unions are unwelcome in Oklahoma. Most wage workers are not union represented. But there are Labour laws that still provide some protection.
What was oil industry’s response to loss in profits in Oklahoma?
Stop paying overtime all together.
Wage workers were required to work all requested overtime with zero compensation. Any resistance meant the worker would lose his job; work for free or be fired.
Stop paying overtime all together.
Wage workers were required to work all requested overtime with zero compensation. Any resistance meant the worker would lose his job; work for free or be fired.
Workers still received their standard 40 hour per week paycheque, but overtime was unpaid free labour for the industry & essentially slave labour for employees.
Oil prices dropped several years ago. Prices are better but still low.
Oil prices dropped several years ago. Prices are better but still low.
Many workers joined a class action lawsuit to recover lost overtime wages, paid at straight time. Not time and a half. It requires workers to sign over 40% of their recovered wages as compensation for the law firm as payment for legal representation.
Meaning, workers would only be eligible for 60% of their earnings at straight time.
Since this is a relatively easy claim to establish, it’s easy money for the legal firm.
I would not be surprised if a kickback to the oil industry was part of this arrangement.
Since this is a relatively easy claim to establish, it’s easy money for the legal firm.
I would not be surprised if a kickback to the oil industry was part of this arrangement.
Oklahoma is chalk full of Dominionist Christian Libertarians. And this sounds like a transfer of wealth to the wealthy scheme. For minimal effort, a law firm submits the required paperwork, labour laws are enforced and lawsuit is won by firm.
40% of wages are taken by the law firm. A prearranged cut returned to the corporation & the rest is kept as a tidy profit for minimal effort. Corporation reduces their expenses, law firm makes money for “nothing”, workers still technically providing slave labour or 1/2 the pay
I’m speculating about the scheme. It’s not just a shot in the dark. My claims are a theory, but other jurisdictions have done much worse.
Hungary has passed laws allowing employers to demand up to 400 hours per year of overtime & 3 years time to pay.
theguardian.com/world/2019/jan…
Hungary has passed laws allowing employers to demand up to 400 hours per year of overtime & 3 years time to pay.
theguardian.com/world/2019/jan…
This is the trajectory a removal of labour laws is moving towards. Gentlemen employers don’t use handshakes for business deals, they use contracts. Employees unaware of the path moving towards slave labour shouldn’t settle for a handshake as protection.
bbc.com/news/world-eur…
bbc.com/news/world-eur…
