Peon's Place

My first reaction to this is “You work at Hooters, what did you expect?” – but apparently the problem is rather widespread.

A wage and hour lawsuit has been filed against five Hooters restaurants in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield, by female waitresses who claim that they have been subjected to repeated violations of California labor laws, such as being unlawfully forced to work through meal and rest breaks, having walkouts deducted from pay checks, having their time cards altered, and being forced to share tips with managers. Hooters is also being accused of failing to pay employees the minimum wages that are required by California state law, as well as applicable overtime and expenses. The lawsuit is seeking class-action status, and will represent nearly 1,000 present and former employees within the past five years.

I realize many positions require you to purchase your own uniform; mine when I was younger were deducted through my paycheck for various places I worked at. However, California law requires that any specialized uniform must be paid for by the employer, and being that these uniforms are not allowed to be worn outside the workplace and that are very specific articles of clothing, makes them specialized.

On top of these, Hooters is also being accused of forcing the waitresses to make promotional appearances in public places, like golf tournaments without compensating them for their time, as well as neglecting to pay them for time spent doing paperwork at the restaurant that is expected to be done after clocking out.

As my co-worker states, “Just one more thing the government is going to screw up.”

Let’s hope not, seriously. Health care is one of the few markings of Canada’s superiority over the United States.

“The measure will require most Americans to have health insurance coverage; would add 16 million people to the Medicaid rolls; and would subsidize private coverage for low- and middle-income people. It will cost the government about $938 billion over 10 years, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, which has also estimated that the bill would reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion over a decade” stated the NY Times.

One thing I find only strangely odd, is this: In the traditional manner of American presidents, Obama signed the bill with 20 pens, using a different pen for each letter of his name and title so that the pens can be distributed as momentos to supporters. (One of the reasons Jimmy Carter was disliked by Congress was his habit of using a single felt-tipped pen to sign laws, and then putting it back in his pocket.)

I don’t think it will be that far away..

My predictions:

Chance of having a recount: 70%

Chance of attacks:
During, or if Kerry wins, 20%
If Bush wins: 80%

Going to vote! I have people I’m trying to get drafted!~