To:  AFL-CIO State Federations, Union Activists and Allies
From:  Peg Seminario, AFL-CIO Safety and Health Department
Date:  February 26, 2001

AFL-CIO ERGO ALERT AND UPDATE

ATTACK ON ERGONOMICS PROTECTIONS IS IMMINENT
URGENT ACTION NEEDED

It now appears that the opponents of ergonomic protections will introduce
legislation to kill OSHA's new ergonomics standard next week. In a
blitzkrieg-like move, they plan to push for a quick and decisive vote in the
Senate the week of March 5 or March 12. Action is needed NOW to save this
important worker protection.

OSHA's new ergonomics standard became effective on January 16, 2001. Ten
years in the making, this standard is the most important worker safety
action developed in the agency's history, preventing hundreds of thousands
of serious injuries each year. But opponents in the business community and
Congress are now trying to repeal this important protection using the
Congressional Review Act (CRA). If the CRA passes, the new ergonomics
standard will be dead, probably forever.

Introduction of a Resolution of Disapproval under the CRA is likely on March
2 or the week of March 5, following the National Association of
Manufacturers' big legislative conference. Probable senate sponsors are Mike
Enzi (R-WY), Don Nickles (R-OK) and Bond (R-MO), and the likely House
sponsors are Tom DeLay (R-TX), Henry Bonilla (R-TX), Cass Ballenger (R-NC),
Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Anne Northup (R-KY).

Although the Resolution of Disapproval will be introduced in both houses of
Congress, opponents are focusing first on the Senate.  Under the CRA, a
resolution can be forced to the floor for a vote immediately *  even if the
Committee has not approved it and hearings have not been held.  Debate is
limited to 10 hours. No filibusters are allowed.  Passage only requires a
simple majority of 51 votes.

Our immediate goal is to line up 51 Senate votes. On the vote last year to
delay the standard, we lost John Breaux (D-LA), Ernest Hollings (D-SC), and
Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D-AR) and picked up Arlen Specter (R-PA). We need
to get all 50 Democrats and as many moderate Republicans as possible to win
this vote and send a message to stop the attack on worker protections.  It's
going to take both Washington D.C. as well as grassroots activity to win.

Our message is clear: Ergonomic protections are now the law of the land,
preventing hundreds of thousands of painful, disabling injuries every year.
To use the Congressional Review Act to take away these protections forever
is an extreme and cruel act.

We need to mobilize immediately. Here's what you can do:

Write, call, fax or e-mail your senators and congressional representatives
NOW and urge them to oppose any legislation to overturn the new OSHA
ergonomics standard. Short talking points and a sample letter are attached.
Or you can call you representatives' offices at (202) 224-3121. Get a few
friends and co-workers to write letters or make calls as well.  Even if your
representatives are sure to vote right, or are sure to vote wrong, they need
to know that this is a critical issue for working families.

Educate and inform local affiliates and union members about the threat to
the new ergonomics standard, through union publications, mailings, alerts,
e-mails and worksite fliers.  Ask them to call, write, fax or e-mail their
members of Congress urging them to protect workers and oppose any
legislation to repeal the standard.

Talk to the local press. If possible, have victims and success stories
prepared to discuss with reporters.

Write letters to the editor or op-eds for your local paper to let the public
know that big business groups are trying to take away these important worker
protections.

The AFL-CIO has prepared materials including fact sheets, flyers, petitions
and sample letters for this campaign.  Much of this information is on the
AFL-CIO website and more will be posted soon.  More extensive information on
the standard and particular issues has also been developed and is available
from the AFL-CIO Safety and Health Department.

Thank you for all of your hard work.  Together we can win this fight.  We
will keep you informed of developments as they unfold. Additional materials
and information are available on the AFL-CIO website at
www.aflcio.org/safety or from the AFL-CIO Safety and Health Department, 815
16th Street N.W., Washington D.C., 20006, tel. 202-637-5366, fax
202-508-6978.

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