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Bush speech costs workers
Firm wants most employees who watch president tout tax cut to report Sat. to make up for lost time.
May 12, 2003: 2:27 PM EDT

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - President Bush is set to visit a manufacturing plant in Omaha, Neb., Monday to tout his $550 billion tax cut, saying it will mean more money for workers -- but watching the speech may make some plant employees a little lighter in the wallet.

Brad Crosby, CEO of Airlite Plastics, said more than 300 hourly workers might lose all or part of a day's pay unless they work next Saturday to compensate any time they take off when part of the plant shuts down for Bush's speech, according to the New York Times.

An Airlite spokesman told the Times in a telephone interview Sunday night that workers will be given four options for dealing with disruption to the plant: They can take the day off whether or not they attend the speech, make up work Saturday and receive full pay; they can use a vacation day; they can work their regular shift in part of the plant that will remain open; or they can take an unpaid day off.

The 15 people who work in the part of the plant that will be completely shut down due to the speech will receive their full pay, the paper reported.

News of the factory's policy for the Bush speech broke when someone who said he was an employee called the Omaha World-Herald to complain that some workers would lose more than $130 in pay.

"It's not a great thing for us employees," the man was quoted as saying. "We're losing a lot of money because of his visit. His speech is supposed to be about what the family can get from his tax breaks. It really doesn't make sense."

Omaha-based Airlite employs 570 workers and makes plastic cups and lids for dairy products.  Top of page




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