US judge backs Halliburton on Iraq overtime claim

[sabra]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-09-28T171439Z_01_N28271048_RTRIDST_0_ENERGY-HALLIBURTON.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna

US judge backs Halliburton on Iraq overtime claim

NEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas ruled this week that oil field services company Halliburton Co. (HAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) does not have to pay millions of dollars in overtime wages claimed by U.S. employees working in Iraq.

The five plaintiffs had filed the lawsuit filed last year charging Halliburton's KBR engineering and construction unit violated the terms of its LOGCAP III contract with the Pentagon by failing to pay them 1-and-1/2 times their base pay for hours worked over 40 hours per week.

Many of Halliburton's employees often worked as much as 100 hours per week under dangerous and difficult conditions, according to the complaint, but were paid not paid at the higher rate.

...

U.S. District Court Judge Melinda Harmon agreed with Halliburton's contention that, although the Pentagon contract called for overtime wages to be paid in Iraq, U.S. laws governing military contracts allow only workers employed inside the United States to be given the overtime pay.

[ThomCat]

1. And of course Haliburton did not tell any of these people

in advance that they were not entitled to overtime pay when they set foot outside of the US.
x(

[underpants]

3. As Rumsfeld is wont to say

It's IN the contract did you READ the contract? No? well then whose fault it that?

[underpants]

2. Wow a sweetheart of a deal Halliburton got in Iraq

$100 bags of laundry
Cost plus disposable SUV's
Meals POTENTIALLY served

all that and they don't even have to pay over time

AND they can't drive the workers like rented mules-what are you going to do, QUIT? and go WHERE?

Gee they sure must be the newest smartest guys in the room to be able to negotiate that sort of deal huh Wally?

:eyes:

[ClintonTyree]

4. "A Federal Judge in Texas"............

gee, why am I NOT surprised? :eyes:

[cosmicdot]

8. appointed by Poppy Bu$h

Melinda Harmon

she was law clerk to the person she replaced, John V. Singleton appointed by LBJ - small world there in Houston, Tx


Federal Judicial Service:

Judge, U. S. District Court, Southern District of Texas

Nominated by George H.W. Bush on February 28, 1989, to a seat vacated by John V. Singleton, Jr.; Confirmed by the Senate on May 18, 1989, and received commission on May 22, 1989.

Education:
Radcliffe College, A.B., 1969

University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1972

Professional Career:

Law clerk, Hon. John V. Singleton, Jr., U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, 1973-1975

Trial attorney, Litigation Section, Exxon Company, Houston, Texas, 1975-1988

Judge, Texas State Trial Court of General Jurisdiction, Civil Division, 280th District, Harris County, Texas, 1988-1989

http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=980

[wakeme2008]

5. This is not as bad as it sounds

they DO pay their employees for hours over 40 but at straight time not 1 1/2. And it was spelled out that way in their contract.

Cry me a river....

[Lance_Boyle]

6. poor downtrodden mercenaries!

It's rather like calling the cops over your stolen stash, isn't it?

[denverbill]

7. Did Halliburton already bill the US govt for the overtime? n/t