You know things have gone weird in the runup to Obamacare’s big rollout when Republicans are quoting big-name union leaders to make the case for scrapping the whole law.But it turns out this alliance of convenience is bound by two interwoven acts of self-interest: the GOP’s unwillingness to fix one flawed piece of the law; and certain unions’ efforts to create a special carveout for their members — to offset potential disruptions Obamacare might create for workers and unions — at a politically vulnerable moment for the ACA.
Ironically, when Republicans side with labor against Obamacare, they’re unintentionally and obliquely endorsing efforts to secure tax subsidization for unions.
it's beginning to look like no one cares for American workers but the Pres., unions are good worker advocates but they go to far when instead of securing these things from the employers they are putting others in the jackpot, i'm having one of my not to clear days if i misinterpreted this please tell me
In a recent letter to the two top Democrats on Capitol Hill, the leaders of the Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers, and Unite Here wrote grimly about Obamacare, whose key benefits kick in five short months from now.
“[U]nless you and the Obama Administration enact an equitable fix, the ACA will shatter not only our hard-earned health benefits, but destroy the foundation of the 40 hour work week that is the backbone of the American middle class,” the letter reads.
“[T]he law creates an incentive for employers to keep employees’ work hours below 30 hours a week,” the letter explains. “Numerous employers have begun to cut workers’ hours to avoid this obligation, and many of them are doing so openly. The impact is two-fold: fewer hours means less pay while also losing our current health benefits.”
This is a real issue, and was a big part of the reason the Obama administration has delayed implementation of the law’s employer mandate for one year. Ideally, Congress would simply tweak the offending provision, but the GOP has committed to never tinkering with the law to make it better, and so the provision in question does threaten worker compensation and benefits.
i'm at a loss why would you lower time when it lowers production it sounds stupid, but understand it from the employer side if they can keep you under 30 hrs you lose the benefits afforded full time 40 hr week workers ok i'm getting it, with republicans denying all jobs bills that the are focused on like a laser and new job number one a second time that forces those workers to take it wherever they stick it because you have no choices these guys know how to work their system on paper the real application tends to fall apart IMO do to their arrogance.
