John,

MIllions of U.S. families are already facing economic devastation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of fighting for the rights and wages of working people, the Trump administration is now finding additional ways to make it harder for working families to make ends meet.

The Trump administration has introduced a proposed rule change that would make it even easier for employers to classify workers as independent contractors, cheating working people of minimum wage and overtime protections, of health benefits, and allowing employers to avoid paying their fair share into Social Security and Medicare.

Join CHN and our national coalition in demanding the U.S. Department of Labor defend labor protections and stop employers from trying to cheat workers out of wages and benefits. Submit your official comment today!

Here's what this proposed rule change would do: Simply put, it would give employers and corporations far more leeway in classifying their workers as independent contractors—allowing them to pay subminimum wages, hire child labor, and avoid overtime pay.

But, together, we are going to unite our voices and stop the Trump administration from undermining the labor protections that have taken generations to build.

This proposed rule ignores the clear language of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and decades of court rulings, including by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Further, it would directly hurt the very workers who have been organizing on the frontlines for better wages and more protections, including construction workers, janitors, home care workers and those deemed "essential workers" during the COVID-19 pandemic,including people who clean homes, care for children and elderly individuals, and deliver groceries.  

These workers must not be left to earn subminimum wages and work more than 40 hours per week without getting any overtime pay.

Do you have two minutes to complete this form to demand the U.S. Department of Labor reject this rule change that would allow employers to cheat workers out of wages and benefits? We are facing a deadline of Monday, October 26 to submit official comments to the Department of Labor to fight on behalf of working people throughout our country.

This DOL proposal sets the stage for a race to the bottom that could end with sweatshop conditions for many workers throughout our country. Thank you for all you do to demand accountability from our political leaders and to fight for the needs of the vulnerable, the sick and the poor.

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs