WHEREAS:

Public sector employees were exempted from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) when it, was enacted in 1970 and today, more than 20 years later, seven and a half million public employees in over half the states still are not covered by federally approved OSHA laws; and

WHEREAS:

Over 1,600 public sector employees are killed on the job each year and almost a quarter of a million public workers suffer disabling workplace injuries every year and more than 70,000 workers are permanently disabled each year; and

WHEREAS:

Public employees perform some of the most hazardous work that society demands to make our lives safe and enjoyable; and

WHEREAS:

Only 21 states have state-run OSHA plans which cover public sector employees and only two states have a "public employee only" plan; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME has conducted active campaigns in several states to attempt to get public employee OSHA plans enacted.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME commit itself to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all Americans, public as well as private sector workers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to work towards the establishment of state OSHA laws which protect public sector employees; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME support federal legislation that would cover public workers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

SUBMITTED BY:

Ronald C. Alexander, President
Andy J. DiLoreto, Secretary-Treasurer
AFSCME/OCSEA Local 11
Ohio