Georgia loses court decision on overtime and minimum wage protection for home care workers

The Associated Press is reporting that a federal appeals court on Friday ruled in favor of Obama administration regulations that guarantee overtime and minimum wage protection to nearly 2 million home care workers.

Nine states, including Georgia, had opposed the rules. Samuel Olens, Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General for the State of Georgia, had filed a brief arguing that the changes would increase state Medicaid costs and expose states to an unfunded liability.

The ruling was a victory for worker advocacy groups, labor unions, and the White House. The Labor Department had proposed the regulations after the Obama White House had been unable to persuade Congress to change the law that exempts home care workers from full coverage under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The Labor Department issued a statement saying “Today's decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is vital to nearly two million home care workers, who will now qualify for minimum wage and overtime protections. The decision confirms this rule is legally sound. And just as important, the rule is the right thing to do — both for employees, whose demanding work merits these fundamental wage guarantees, and for recipients of services, who deserve a stable and professional workforce allowing them to remain in their homes and communities.”

A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed a lower court decision in the case and said the Labor Department has the power to interpret the law to change that exemption.

The AP story cites Judge Sri Srinivasan as saying that a "dramatic transformation" of the home care industry over the past four decades as a valid reason for the change. While most caregivers used to be directly employed by individual households, the vast majority of workers now work for staffing companies that service hundreds or thousands of customers, Srinivasan said.

He also noted a massive shift to providing care for the elderly in their own homes rather than in nursing homes, which requires workers to offer more advanced medical care and assistance to clients than the mere "companionship" services envisioned in 1974.

Implementation of the regulations will be delayed, as there is a 45-day window to allow the home care associations to seek a rehearing before the full court.

You can read the full decision here.

Georgia AFL-CIO throws its weight behind Bennett in special election

Georgia’s AFL-CIO is making a determined effort to see that Democratic candidate Taylor Bennett wins the state’s House District 80 race.

Charlie Flemming, president of the Georgia AFL-CIO, wrote in an email, "We need your help in encouraging the working families and union members in the district to turnout for this election!"

Union leaders plan to canvass for Bennett on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Union membership in Georgia is relatively small, less than 5 % of workers in the state, but that still represents approximately 170,000 people.

Special elections tend to attract few voters, so attempts to bring out voters for one candidate can have a disproportionate effect on outcomes.

Democrat Taylor Bennett and Republican J. Max Davis will meet in an Aug. 11 runoff election after neither won more than 50 % of the votes cast in a July 14 special election.

House District 80 covers Brookhaven and portions of Sandy Springs, Chamblee and Dunwoody.

The seat became vacant when Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Rep. Mike Jacobs to the DeKalb County State Court bench in May.

For more information on Georgia AFL-CIO’s Saturday event, click here.