UPDATE 04/29/2013: The death toll as of this morning stands at 377 and hundreds of people remain missing, reports The New York Times.  CNN reports that authorities have arrested six people: three factory owners, two government engineers and the owner of the building, Sohel Rana-a local-level leader of the ruling Awamil League- who was caught as he tried to flee the country.

You can show solidarity with garment workers in Bangladesh by going go to LabourStart to send your message demanding that the Bangladeshi government take urgent action to guarantee freedom of association and improve building and fire safety and the minimum wage for the more than 3 million garment workers in Bangladesh.

More than 300 workers now have been confirmed dead from Wednesday's building collapse in Bangladesh. Some 2,200 survivors have been pulled from the ruins of what is being called one of the worst manufacturing disasters in history. More than 3,000 garment workers were on the job when upper building floors pancaked on top of each other.

If you are one of the millions of workers who count on overtime to stretch your paycheck, including the 59% of US workers paid by the hour, it's time to tell House Republicans, "Don't cut my overtime with your so-called Working Families Flexibility Act (H.R. 1406)." 

The bill would allow employers to stop giving workers any extra pay for overtime work and instead substitute "comp time."

What would that mean for most workers?

1. "Comp Time" means a pay cut-Workers compensated with time off rather than cash would see a reduction in their take-home pay.

2. "Comp Time" means mandatory overtime-"Comp time" legislation would make mandatory overtime less expensive for employers. Under "comp time" legislation, employers may be able to receive the benefits of overtime work at no additional cost to themselves. 

3. "Comp Time" means more unpredictable work schedules for employees-Making mandatory overtime cheaper for employers would keep workers on the job longer and result in more unpredictable worker schedules and, for workers with children, higher day care costs. 

4. "Comp Time" undermines the 40-hour workweek-The only incentive for employers to maintain a 40-hour workweek is the requirement under the Fair Labor Standards Act that they pay a time-and-a-half cash premium for overtime. "Comp time" legislation, by contrast, would encourage employers to demand longer hours by making overtime less expensive.

5. "Comp Time" is not voluntary-Workers can be coerced into accepting "comp  time" and the employer has the ultimate authority to determine when a worker can use accrued  "comp time."

Call Congress today and tell your representative to oppose H.R. 1406: 1-888-866-2561.

Robert Reich explains in his blog this week why weak economic growth means we need to repeal the sequester. Below is a cross-post from Reich's blog.

Economic forecasters exist to make astrologers look good. Most had forecast growth of at least 3 percent (on an annualized basis) in the first quarter. But we learned this morning (in the Commerce Department's report) it grew only 2.5 percent.

That's better than the 2 percent growth last year and the slowdown at the end of the year. But it's still cause for serious concern. 

First, consumers won't keep up the spending. Their savings rate fell sharply-from 4.7% in the last quarter of 2012 to 2.6% from January through March.

Add in March's dismal employment report, the lowest percentage of working-age adults in jobs since 1979, and January's hike in payroll taxes, and consumer spending will almost certainly drop. 

Median household incomes continue to decline, adjusted for inflation. Another report out today showed consumer confidence fell in April.

Second, the recovery continues to be wildly lopsided. The only thing really keeping it going is the rip-roaring stock market. But the stock market only boosts the wealth of the richest 10 percent of Americans, who own 90 percent of stocks (including 401-K retirement accounts).

But no economy can maintain momentum just on the spending of the richest 10 percent.

Third, American exports can't possibly pick up the slack. In fact, they're dropping. Europe is falling into recession because of austerity economics. Japan is still a basket case. China's economy is slowing. Much of the developing world's economy is dependent on exports to the developed world-so don't hold your breath for developing countries to bail us out.

So what is Washington doing? Worse than nothing. It has now adopted the same kind of austerity economics that's doomed Europe-cutting federal spending and reducing total demand. And the sequester doesn't end September 30. It takes an even bigger bite out of the federal budget next fiscal year.

Earth to Washington: The economy is slowing. The recovery is stalling. At the very least, repeal the sequester.

You don't have to be an astrologer to see the dangers ahead.