Ergo Alert
From the AFL-CIO Safety and Health Department

Victory!!!!!!
Workers Win New OSHA Ergonomics Standard

Action Needed to Fight Congressional and Business Attacks

After ten long years of struggle, workers in this country have finally won
protections to prevent crippling repetitive stain injuries, the nation's
biggest job safety problem.  Today, OSHA issued it's final ergonomics
standard which will prevent hundreds of thousands of injuries each year. The
final standard requires employers to implement ergonomics programs and fix
jobs where musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occur.  While not as strong as
the labor movement had sought, since it does not require action until
workers are injured and fails to cover all workers, the rule is a huge step
forward and will bring about major improvements in workplace safety. (See
attached AFL-CIO factsheet on OSHA's final ergonomic standard).

The promulgation of this new workplace protection is a major victory for
workers, the labor movement and safety and health activists.  For years, big
business groups and anti-worker members of Congress have waged a relentless
campaign to block the ergonomics standard.  Repeatedly, Republican leaders
have made - and then broken  - agreements to allow the ergonomics standard
to proceed. Just two weeks ago, Republican House leaders blew up an
agreement their own negotiators had reached on a major budget bill * bowing
to opposition from the Chamber of Commerce and other business interests to
any agreement that permitted the final standard to be promulgated.

As we celebrate this victory, we must get ready for the certain attempts by
business and Congressional opponents to overturn the final standard through
legislative and court actions.   In Congress, efforts to overturn the final
rule or block it from taking effect may begin immediately as Congress
returns for a lame duck session.

Action Needed

The final battle in our fight for a workplace ergonomics standard begins
today.  We must act immediately to build broad public and Congressional
support for this important worker protection.  Please join the fight to stop
opponents efforts to block or overturn this hard won protection.

* Share this alert and information about this new worker safety standard
with your members and the public through your publications and electronic
communications. Urge them to join this effort.

* Call or write your members of Congress.  Tell them that workers need and
deserve these protections to prevent crippling workplace injuries.  Ask them
to support the OSHA ergonomics standard and to oppose any attempts to block
or delay the rule.

* Issue a press release in support of the standard.  Contact local reporters
and write letters to the editor to let the public know why workers in your
community need these protections.

The AFL-CIO has prepared materials to help you in this fight.  Attached is a
copy of a sample letter to members of Congress, talking points, the AFL-CIO
press release on the standard, and a fact sheet. A copy of the standard and
background information can be found on OSHA's website at www.osha.gov.

Thank you for all your hard work.  Let's keep up the fight so that working
men and women finally have the protections they deserve