Fight for safe jobs, Healthy workplaces

WHEN IT COMES TO JOB safety and health protection for workers, many employers and their anti-worker congressional allies are in denial about the dangers of the workplace. They consider OSHA regulations to be unnecessary, burdensome and costly. But costly to whom? To the employers or to the more than 60,000 workers who die from job injuries and illnesses each year? Or the other 6 million who are injured?

Here are some of the recent attempts to roll back health and safety protection:

But there are also pro-active safety bills that Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) has introduced. Senate bill 650 would extend OSHA coverage to federal, state and local government employees; S. 651 would increase prison terms and fines for employers who willfully endanger the health and safety of their workers; and S. 652 would strengthen whistle-blower protection for workers who file OSHA complaints.

Taking action at your local:
Contact your elected representatives about the above pieces of legislation through the Capitol switchboard: 1-877-722-7494. Or write to them. Your voice does make a difference!

The PACESetter, vol.1 no.2, April 1999