May/June 2001

Workplace Safety Funds in Danger

WASHINGTON - The nation's largest labor union is worried the Bush administration's federal budget proposal would adversely affect America's workforce as it slashes funding for training and employee-safety programs.

"American workers are experiencing record numbers of layoffs and a soaring trade deficit, yet the president's budget ignores these realities in favor of tax cuts for their employers," AFL-CIO president John Sweeney said.

Funding for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the agency that oversees workplace safety, would remain stable at $425 million, but would lose 94 full-time workers, of which 64 would come out of enforcement, said Chris Owens, deputy director of AFL-CIOs public policy department.

President Bush has had a tempestuous relationship with labor since assuming office three months ago. Since then, he repealed about 600 pages of federal regulations on ergonomics, workplace safety practices that prevented repetitive stress injuries such as carpel tunnel syndrome or back injuries found in people who work in jobs such as assembly plant workers.

Source: United Press International

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