Helen Thomas:

The Bush administration has a problem with American workers getting just compensation for their labors.

This compassionate administration already is on the road to wiping out overtime pay for many workers. Labor Department rules that go into effect Aug. 23 will eliminate overtime eligibility for between 100,000 and six million employees, depending on whose calculations you believe.

Now the Bush team is pushing changes to the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, which forbids the substitution of compensatory time off for overtime. Under the Bush plan, workers would be able to choose between the two (if they are eligible for overtime in the first place).

It sounds innocent enough. But opponents, including the AFL-CIO, believe the administration's motive is less compassion for family togetherness than saving corporations billions in overtime pay. In other words, it's an administration end run to deny workers overtime pay they need to live.

All this is on top of the administration's refusal last year to further extend unemployment compensation coverage to the long-term jobless.

And the minimum wage remains at $5.15 an hour although some prominent Democrats have proposed an increase to $7 an hour. Try raising a family on that salary.

Under the new Labor Department rules that take effect in two weeks, about 1.3 million low paid workers will be eligible for overtime for the first time. That's certainly commendable.

But here's the tricky part. The Labor Department estimates that the rules also will eliminate overtime only for 107,000 workers who make $100,000 or more a year.

Ross Eisenbrey, Vice President and Policy Director of the Economic Policy Institute, said the number is more like 6 million.

"It becomes apparent that millions of workers will lose their overtime pay," he said.

So even if you split the difference, the Labor Department exemptions boil down to longer hours and less pay for the average American worker.

The administration says its new legislative push for so-called "comp time" or "flex time" is aimed at letting workers spend more time with their families.

But what if a couple needs dual salaries to keep their households going, pay the mortgage, pay the bills and buy a car?

The changes the administration seeks are dressed up to make them look "family friendly." But the White House's true agenda is helping employers.

Among those backing "flex" time are the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a slew of business trade associations.

Lonnie Golden, a labor studies professor at Penn State University, said some professional employees who want shorter hours might be willing to sacrifice the money but he doubts the blue collar worker is in that category.

Golden said unscrupulous employers who want to avoid paying overtime might bamboozle employees into taking "flex" time instead of overtime paid at the traditional time-and-a-half rate.

With the job picture sluggish -- only 32,000 new jobs created in July -- this is hardly the time to weaken the labor laws and hurt the worker even more.

The big labor unions are over a barrel and becoming powerless under the administration's anti-labor onslaught.

If they protest too much, employers can threaten to move their plants to China, India, Mexico and Indonesia among others where sweat shops and child labor are available.

The American worker is getting hit from all directions by an unconcerned administration and a president who is advocating that everyone be an owner.

Nice work if you can get it.

Unless the labor force galvanizes against further inroads, the administration may strike again. Who knows? But the 12-week family medical leave for workers is reportedly next on its hit list.

During the Great Depression in the 1930's, Americans had a president --Franklin D. Roosevelt-- who understood the plight of joblessness and devised ways to put the unemployed to work.

What a contrast to the current occupant of the White House. Not only does Bush show little concern for those out of work, he can't stop thinking of new ways to help employers reduce paychecks and benefits of those fortunate enough to still have a job.

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