[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 47 (Monday, April 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PROTECT WORKERS RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 4, 2011

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to discuss H.R. 807, a bill 
which would allow collective bargaining over compensation related 
labor-management disputes. Examples of such disputes include locality 
pay, overtime pay, shift differential pay, and performance pay.
  I would like to emphasize that my bill continues to protect the basic 
rates of pay so that VA employees cannot bargain over the federal pay 
scales. However, I have heard stories where a VA nurse's overtime pay 
is miscalculated but there is no recourse for addressing this 
inaccuracy.
  H.R. 807 would also help VA with their recruitment and retention 
efforts since prospective employees would have the assurance that they 
will be treated fairly when it comes to the enforcement of pay laws and 
regulations.
  I believe this bill is just the first step in protecting the 
employment rights of VA healthcare providers. It is the right thing to 
for those hard-working men and women who care for our veterans every 
day.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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