Trustee Elections
These are the original issues in this subcategory
- UNEMPLOYMENT
- LABOR DISPUTES
- WORKER SAFETY
Since 1971, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) has been responsible for developing and enforcing workplace safety and health regulations. OSHA’s mission is to “assure safe and healthful conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.” Since OSHA’s inception, workplace fatalities have decreased 65%, from 38 deaths a day to 14, while injury and illness rates have dropped 67%. In 2018, 5,250 workers died on the job, including 887 from fatal falls. Most of the debate about OSHA centers on the cost of its regulations versus the actual benefit in reduced worker injury, illness and death. However, studies have found the costs of compliance with OSHA rules are often overestimated by both OSHA and the industries it regulates.
Some question OSHA’s effectiveness because the maximum penalty it can levy against safety violators is 6 months in jail. During nearly 50 years of OSHA’s existence, it has only secured a total of 12 criminal convictions. Advocates claim we need to revise OSHA’s laws to make it a felony to willfully commit a safety violation that results in the injury or death of a worker.
Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.2876 - Protecting America’s Workers Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Joe Courtney (CT)
Some question OSHA’s effectiveness because the maximum penalty it can levy against safety violators is 6 months in jail. During nearly 50 years of OSHA’s existence, it has only secured a total of 12 criminal convictions. Advocates claim we need to revise OSHA’s laws to make it a felony to willfully commit a safety violation that results in the injury or death of a worker.
Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.2876 - Protecting America’s Workers Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Joe Courtney (CT)
- I oppose reforming current worker safety policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA).
- I support expanding the coverage of requirements governing workplace safety and health to include protection for federal, state, and local government employees by:
1.) Expanding protections for whistle-blowers, such as protections for employees who refuse to perform work because they reasonably believe the work would result in serious injury or illness and for employees who aid inspections.
2.) Directing employers to furnish a hazard-free place of employment to all individuals performing work, not just employees.
3.) Directing employers to report work-related deaths or certain injuries, illnesses, or hospitalizations.
4.) Requiring the Department of Labor to investigate fatalities or significant incidents in the workplace.
5.) Establishing rights for victims, or representatives of victims, with respect to inspections or investigations of work-related bodily injuries or deaths.
6.) Setting the permitted period for employers to correct serious, willful, or repeated violations while citations for the violations are being contested.
7.) Increasing civil and criminal penalties for certain violations.
8.) Expanding enforcement requirements relating to state occupational safety and health plans.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Joe Courtney (CT) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
- I support expanding the coverage of requirements governing workplace safety and health to include protection for federal, state, and local government employees by:
1.) Expanding protections for whistle-blowers, such as protections for employees who refuse to perform work because they reasonably believe the work would result in serious injury or illness and for employees who aid inspections.
2.) Directing employers to furnish a hazard-free place of employment to all individuals performing work, not just employees.
3.) Directing employers to report work-related deaths or certain injuries, illnesses, or hospitalizations.
4.) Requiring the Department of Labor to investigate fatalities or significant incidents in the workplace.
5.) Establishing rights for victims, or representatives of victims, with respect to inspections or investigations of work-related bodily injuries or deaths.
6.) Setting the permitted period for employers to correct serious, willful, or repeated violations while citations for the violations are being contested.
7.) Increasing civil and criminal penalties for certain violations.
8.) Expanding enforcement requirements relating to state occupational safety and health plans.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Joe Courtney (CT) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
There has been $0.00 pledged in support of this issue
Trustee Election - Opening Date
May 29, 2023
Trustee Election - Closing Date
June 5, 2023