In reality, however, there are no repercussions awaiting Muni, just as no repercussions befell its overtime-fueled mechanics. In no versions of the city's overtime law has there been a provision establishing any penalties for failing to comply. An overtime law that isn't meant to reduce overtime also has no recourse to punish those who violate it.
Certainly individual workers won't feel the pinch. Per the Fair Labor Standards Act, even unauthorized work must be compensated. Non-Muni managers who dole out overtime too narrowly can look forward to unpleasant phone calls from the Department of Human Resources. But that's about as bad as it gets. Departments unresponsive to normal human emotions (such as shame) and with no compunctions about allowing representatives to be browbeaten before a Board of Supervisors committee can follow the rules as they see fit. "There don't appear to be any repercussions to hold us to our budget realities," says Supervisor David Chiu of his own law (he sponsored the 2011 version).
John Graham
The OT paid out to fix this is about equal to the GNP of Belize.
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The checks will keep coming as regularly as cold weather and complaints. While the overtime law may not be working, there's always someone working the overtime law.
