Demos Statement in Response to Ruling Invalidating Overtime Pay Rules

On August 31, Federal District Judge Amos Mazzant of Texas issued a ruling striking down the U.S. Department of Labor’s update to federal rules on overtime pay. Demos Associate Director of Policy and Research Amy Traub released the following statement:

“In a shameful and deeply flawed decision, a Texas judge has taken overtime pay from millions of working Americans just ahead of Labor Day. The overtime rule was a long-overdue update needed to ensure that Americans would be paid for their full work hours. Had the rule gone into effect as intended, millions of working people and their families would have benefitted from shorter work hours or higher pay, with an average annual pay boost of $1.2 billion per year, according to the Department of Labor. Women, people of color, and younger workers would have seen the greatest gains. Instead they lose the most from Judge Mazzant’s decision.

“As we noted previously, the overtime pay rule represents a very real way that our democratically-elected officials can change the rules of the game, un-rigging the economy in a way that actually benefits ordinary Americans. This decision to invalidate the rule preserves an economic order that working people know is rigged against them. It should be appealed immediately.”

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