Wages & Hours Bill: Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA)

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Dear Student,
Hello and thank you once again for using Brainmass. Please bear in mind that the solution below is written as a sample-guide, aimed to provide you with ways of tackling the problems presented in your academic problem by example. It is therefore not aimed to be course-specific as your current class might have selected points of argument expected with regards to the case. It covers, however what is asked and should provide you with what you need. An additional attachment aside from the word version of the solution is also included to present the current practiced exemptions to the FLSA by the California Labor Commission. Good luck!

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OTA 105878/Xenia Jones
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Garcia vs. City of San Antonio

The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), also known as the Wages and Hours Bill has had several amendments for the purpose of relevance since its inception. It remains, however, one of the most important Federal Laws governing employment for it guards minimum wage, guarantees overtime (time & a half) payment and guards against oppressive child labour. FLSA applies to all employers and employees practicing interstate-commerce whether in manufacturing, business and other forms of interstate production of commercial goods and services for the purpose of profit and trade. FLSA does not apply if by any chance the employer finds exemption but this only appears in rare cases. There have been many arguments and legal conflicts determined and resolved via the FLSA. One of the more prominent was the Supreme Court case of Garcia v. San Antonio Metropolitan Transit Authority, 469 U.S. 528 of 1985 for it tested the applicability and constitutionality of the Act specifically the powers of the Congress to extend FLSA applicability to employees of all State and local governments under the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. Additionally, the final decision overruled a previous decision of the Court in National League of Cities v. Usery, 426 U.S. 833 (1976), on the argument of regulation of state and local government activities in relation to the Commerce Clause as being in violation of the 10th Amendment.

The Case

The FLSA's passage in 1938 did not specifically cover employees of transportation and transit companies as well as those employed by state and local governments. A 1966 amendment to the FLSA by the US Congress extended the coverage to private transit companies of a particular size and to cover certain employees of state and local governments. By doing so, Congress withdrew minimum wage and overtime exemptions for public hospitals, schools, and mass transit ...