The Journal

Issue date: 4/12/07 Section: Opinion/Editorial

Angela Ludwinski

Last November, Missouri voters approved a proposal to increase minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $6.50. The raise was long overdue, and the proposition provides that minimum wage be adjusted annually for inflation. Unfortunately, some elements of the new law are hurting workers, and the Missouri Legislature is balking to help.


Most propositions for minimum wage increases have special provisions for fire and police departments. Because of the nature of their jobs, firefighters and police officers routinely work more than 40 hours per week. The new law requires every person who works more than 40 hours a week be paid overtime. While the minimum wage increase has helped a lot of people, the lack of an exception has put a strain on many police and fire departments.


While it may sound terrible to not provide these workers overtime, many people do not know how scheduling works for someone in the fire or police department. They may work 60 hours one week and then the next only work 20. The pay period is a two-week cycle, and it balances out.


If minimum wage law does not account for police and fire scheduling, municipalities are left with a few options. They could schedule 8-hour shifts instead of 12, but this would require additional workers and make scheduling more difficult.


They could cut police officers' and firefighters' pay, which would be unfair and not beneficial for the men and women serving and protecting our community.


They could pay workers overtime, but many could not afford to do so. The burden of this would end up on the taxpayers, and taxes would almost certainly be increased in smaller municipalities.


The outcry from the police and fire community has caused a proposal to fix the law in the state legislature to exempt police and fire departments from paying overtime.


Currently, some municipalities are being forced to pay for overtime they cannot afford because of the new law. Other departments are giving compensation time that can be used later for vacations and personal days.


These departments are paying right now for the mistake the Missouri Legislature made when it drafted the law, and the Missouri House should be doing everything in its power to fix the mistake and not cost municipalities any more money. Instead, they are taking the opportunity to put their personal agendas through the legislature.

Continued...

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