Kentucky Kingdom withdraws support for bill banning overtime pay for seasonal workers

Kentucky Kingdom withdrew its support Friday for a controversial measure that would allow seasonal businesses to avoid paying employees overtime, two days after a union threatened a wider boycott against the Louisville-based amusement park.

Ed Hart, president of Kentucky Kingdom, had testified in favor of Senate Bill 35, which narrowly passed through the state Senate last week.

The company said it wouldn't be able to afford to pay those higher overtime wages due to its already-high pay for seasonal employees, who Hart said are paid well-above minimum wages. But his company announced it had reversed course in statement to Courier Journal.

The legislation, "would have allowed Kentucky Kingdom to ... (offer) additional straight-time hours to those team members who want the extra pay," the release said. "Kentucky Kingdom felt it was beneficial to afford its seasonal employees the opportunity and thus initially supported SB 35."

Read more: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/ky-legislature/2018/02/09/kentucky-kingdom-withdraws-support-senate-bill-35/325226002/