New York Times Editorial Blasts Bush Labor Department

July 24, 2008

In an editorial titled, "No Friend of the Workers," the New York Times last week slammed the Bush administration for running "a Labor Department that simply is not standing up for workers."

"It should surprise no one, at this point, that an arm of the Bush administration charged with protecting Americans' rights or safety is not doing its job," the Times said. "Even so, a government report and a Congressional hearing painted a disturbing picture."

The new non-partisan report and testimony showed how poorly the DOL's Wage and Hour Division treated workers' complaints. In one case, a deliveryman complained about not being paid overtime that he'd earned. The complaint was ignored for 17 months, then the case was closed because the statute of limitations was about to expire.

The Times blasted Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, saying that for seven years, she "has run a department that has tilted toward employers and failed to properly enforce labor laws."