Union Files Complaint With OSHA over Ergonomics

Feb. 26, 2002
The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) filed a complaint today with OSHA, hoping to force the agency into taking action on ergonomics.

The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) are tired of waiting. The union filed a complaint today with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), hoping to force the agency into taking action on ergonomics.

In a statement released today, the union noted, "One year ago, American workers finally had the workplace protection of an ergonomics standard - for a mere 96 days. The Republican leadership in Congress and the Bush administration trashed the standard, betraying 10 years of scientific research, bipartisan cooperation and American workers suffering on the line every day."

The union added it pledged to its members it would take action and force OSHA to act on ergonomics.

"Since the political assassination of the ergonomic standard, more than 1 million workers have suffered needless ergonomic injuries," said UFCW President Doug Dority. "I promised that the UFCW would not wait for another standard and that we would begin immediately to organize and mobilize workers to file complaints with OSHA in cases where ergonomic hazards are crippling and injuring workers."

The UFCW held a press briefing as part of the AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting today in New Orleans. It announced it will file a complaint with OSHA under the general duty clause that focuses on ergonomics injuries to workers at a Pilgrim''s Pride poultry plant in Lufkin, Texas.

"Workers with repetitive stress injuries at Pilgrim''s Pride Lufkin plant are given aspirin and ice and sent back to the production line," commented John Rodriguez, UFCW vice president.

"The majority of workers at the Lufkin plant, like most poultry plants, are new immigrants and minority workers. Companies exploit their fear and lack of information about workplace rights to silence their complaints and feed their own profits," he added. "Injuries go unreported and hazards go uncorrected. Well, the UFCW is breaking down that wall of silence at the Lufkin plant."

Back in June 2001, the Department of Labor announced it would hold three national public hearings on ergonomics beginning in July to determine whether to regulate - or not regulate - occupational hazards that cause repetitive motion injuries.

In addition, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, who is scheduled to address the AFL-CIO executive council this afternoon, set herself a September deadline to identify the final course of action on the issue. Chao blames the events of Sept. 11 for throwing her off schedule. Rumors periodically surface that she is about to announce her plan to tackle the issue of ergonomics, though nothing has been released to date.

by Sandy Smith ([email protected])

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EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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