Washington, D.C.

Overtime rules hurt workers, report says

Disputing Bush administration estimates, a labor-backed think tank said Wednesday that new federal rules would remove overtime protections for at least 6 million U.S. workers.

The study by the Economic Policy Institute was released a day after three former Labor Department officials said in a report requested by the AFL-CIO that “large numbers” of employees entitled to overtime would no longer get it when the new rules take effect Aug. 23.

The Bush administration took issue with the findings.

“These latest studies are a rehash of misinformation that the AFL-CIO put out about the department’s final overtime security rule in April, assertions that were completely discredited in congressional hearings,” said Labor Department spokesman Ed Frank.

Washington, D.C.

Free trade approved with Australia

The House on Wednesday approved a free-trade agreement with Australia, an important market for U.S. manufactured goods and a strong ally in the war against terrorism.

The House voted 314-109 to make Australia the seventh nation to enjoy a bilateral free-trade relationship with the United States. The Senate is expected to follow today with a vote to enact the agreement signed by the two countries last February.

The measure had robust bipartisan backing because Australia, unlike less-developed free-trade partners, has strong labor rights and environmental laws and poses no threat to U.S. jobs.

But there were some detractors, mainly among lawmakers concerned about a gradual increase in beef and dairy products from Australia.