Congressman Keith Ellison

Representing the 5th District of Minnesota

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Rep. Ellison Statement on Providing Overtime Pay to Employees Working on Thanksgiving

Nov 26, 2014
Press Release

WASHINGTON—Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement today after Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) and other Members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez asking the Department of Labor to encourage American businesses to provide overtime pay to employees working on Thanksgiving. 

"For most Americans, Thanksgiving is an opportunity to spend time with family and reflect on what we are most thankful for. But for many working people, Thanksgiving has become another day spent behind the cash register and on the sales floor. While some shoppers choose to go shopping on Thanksgiving, too many retail workers don't have a choice. They should be properly compensated for working on this holiday. 

"I am proud to support Rep. Steve Israel's letter to Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez requesting that the Department of Labor encourage American companies to ask for volunteers to work on Thanksgiving and to provide overtime pay to those who do work. On Thanksgiving Day, we can give thanks to working Americans by paying them fairly."