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APWU News Bulletins

Volume XXXI, No. 4                                                            March 19, 2001

GOP Kills New Ergonomics Standard!

Under Republican leadership, the US Senate and House of Representatives snuffed out the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's new rules to protect workers from painful and debilitating repetitive strain injuries. President George W. Bush indicated support for the anti-labor action.

Senate GOP Opposition to Rule Was Lock-Step

After only 10 hours of debate, the Senate voted in nearly party-line fashion 56-44 for the Resolution of Disapproval on the Ergonomics Standard. The vote was the first ever utilizing the Congressional Review Act to strike down issued regulations. The resolution prohibits the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from adopting any substantially similar rule.

Twenty-four hours after the Senate vote, the House, led by GOP anti-labor and pro-business forces, voted 223-206 to kill the ergonomics standard. As in the Senate, this was accomplished without amendment and with limited debate.

Every single Republican senator-all 50-voted to kill the ergonomics standard, including Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), who had voted with labor last fall against delaying the standard.

The resolution (H.J.Res.6) was promoted by Sens. Mike Enzi (R-WY), Don Nickles (R-OK), and Tim Hutchinson (R-AR). Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, took the lead in fighting the Republican anti-ergonomics effort.

Twenty-two Democrats Voted with GOP

Six Democratic senators abandoned working Americans on the critical vote. They are Sens. Blanche Lambert Lincoln (AR), Mary Landrieu (LA), John Breaux (LA), Zell Miller (GA), Ernest "Fritz" Hollings (SC) and Max Baucus (MT).

Sixteen Democrats in the House joined with the Republican leadership on this assault against workers. They are Reps. Bud Cramer (AL), Cal Dooley (CA), Allen Boyd (FL), Chris John (LA), Gene Taylor (MS), Ike Skelton (MO), Mike McIntyre (NC), Brad Carson (OK), Jim Clyburn (SC), John Spratt (SC), Bob Clement (TN), John Tanner (TN), Ralph Hall (TX), Jim Turner (TN), Norm Sisisky (VA) and Charles Stenholm (TX).

Thirteen Republicans Supported Labor

Thirteen Republican representatives had the courage to stand up for working Americans on H.J.Res.6! They are Reps. Steve Horn (CA), Mike Ferguson (NJ), Frank LoBiondo (NJ), Jim Saxton (NJ), Chris Smith (NJ), Sherwood Boehlert (NY), Ben Gilman (NY), Felix Grucci (NY), Peter King (NY), John McHugh (NY), Jack Quinn (NY), Curt Weldon (PA) and Tom Petri (WI).

APWU members should write to their senators and representative either to thank them for voting to protect working Americans, or to ask them to explain why they voted against us. The tally of votes is printed below.

Rules Addressed Major Job Safety Problem

Organized labor spent 10 years working with the Department of Labor and OSHA to develop the new ergonomics rules. The standard was issued by the Clinton Administration in November 2000 over protests from anti-labor business groups.

The regulations would have prevented hundreds of thousands of injuries each year by requiring employers to implement ergonomics programs and fix jobs where musculoskeletal disorders occur.

Tally of Votes on S.J.Res.6

 

Workers Memorial Day is April 28

On April 28, 2001, the labor movement will observe Workers Memorial Day to remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job. The day is more than a remembrance-it is a time to renew the fight for workplace safety and health protections.

Here are some things you can do to support stronger worker protections:

* Organize petition and letter-writing campaigns to urge Congress and the Bush administration to oppose rollbacks of worker protections. Petitions and sample letters are available from the AFL-CIO, 202-637-5366, www.aflcio.org.

* Distribute flyers and organize a call-in to congressional representatives; tell your representatives you oppose efforts to weaken OSHA and safety and health protections.

* Hold a public meeting with congressional representatives. Include injured workers and family members who can talk firsthand about the need for worker protections.

* Observe a moment of silence in memory of the thousands of workers who die each year from workplace hazards. Follow up by informing fellow workers about legislative threats to safety and health protections.

* Hold a rally, march or memorial service.

* Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.

APWU POWER 10th Biennial National Convention

The APWU POWER 10th Biennial National Convention is scheduled to be held Thursday, August 2 through Sunday, August 5, 2001, at the Crowne Plaza Albany Hotel, State & Lodge Street, Albany, New York.

Participants should plan to arrive on Wednesday, August 1 if they plan to take part in the pre-convention workshops scheduled for Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

The convention begins with the general session at 3:00 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2001; it ends at 12:00 noon, Sunday, August 5, 2001.

Hotel Information

To make hotel reservations, contact the hotel directly at 518-462-6611 or 800-227-6963 and identify yourself as a participant of the Post Office Women for Equal Rights Convention. The room rate is $105 for single/double occupancy, plus 11 percent tax per room, per night. Reservations should be made prior to Friday, June 29, 2001 to guarantee the negotiated rate. Participants are encouraged to make hotel reservations early.

Note: The hotel requires a deposit of one night's room and tax to hold all reservations. Any reservations not guaranteed by personal check, money order, or credit card will be canceled after 4:00 pm on the day of arrival.

Hotel check-in time is 4:00 pm; check-out time is 11:00 am. The hotel parking charge is $8.00 per day and is subject to change without notice.

Special Needs

Reservations for child care and sign-language interpreters (available during seminar/convention hours only) must be made by Friday, June 29, 2001.

A Special Request

Kelly green T-shirts will be sold at the convention to be worn with white bottoms on Saturday, August 4, 2001.

Transportation

The Crowne Plaza Albany Hotel will provide van transportation to and from the Albany International Airport and the Amtrak train station. Please contact the hotel directly at 518-462-6611 to make arrangements for pickup.

For More Information

For additional information, contact the APWU Research and Education Department, 1300 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, or phone 202-842-4225.

 

APWU POWER Eastern Region Health Seminar

The APWU POWER Eastern Region Health Seminar, "Putting Yourself First," will take place on Saturday, May 5, 2001 at the Richmond, VA Local union hall, 3114 West Clay Street, Richmond, VA 23230. The phone number is 804-355-6070.

The following workshops will begin at 10:00 am and end at 4:00 pm: Preventing Strokes and Heart Disease; Fitness, Exercise and Nutrition; Coping With Stress; and "APWU Jeopardy."

Directions

To get to the Richmond, VA Local union office from the north, take US Interstate 95 South into Richmond, to Exit 78 (Boulevard). Make a right turn onto Boulevard. Go one-half mile until you see the Flower Market (at the corner of Boulevard and Clay Street). Make a right turn onto Clay Street. The union office, located at 3114 West Clay Street, has a parking lot and a red awning in front.

If you are traveling from the south, take 95 North to Exit 78 (Boulevard) and turn left at the fork in the ramp. Make a left turn onto Hermitage Road. Turn right onto Robin Hood Road, then left onto Boulevard. Make a right turn onto Clay Street at the Flower Market.

 

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