Tuesday, July 12, 2005

New Bills Would Limit OSHA Scope

Four bills that will change the way the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) does business could be brought up for consideration to the U.S. House of Representatives this week. The quartet of House Resolutions, numbered 739, 740, 741 and 742 were introduced by Representative Charles Norwood (GA) and would benefit business, not workers.

One bill, H.R. 739, would change the current OSHA timetable for challenges to an agency ruling from fifteen days to an unspecified timeline. Under the bill, if a company proves the “failure results from mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect,” they can file for an extension to fix or fight OSHA’s ruling.

Another bill, H.R. 740 adds two members to OSHA’s review board, while H.R. 741 gives the Review Commission rule-making authority and allows it to perform its own review of regulations. H.R. 742 would require OSHA to repay small business’ legal costs if the business prevails in a legal battle over the issue of citations by OSHA.

The bills presented give the implication of overzealous OSHA inspectors frivolously handing out erroneous citations to intimidate small business. However, OSHA was originally created to protect workers and make the work environment safer.

H.R. 739 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.00739:

H.R. 740 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.00740:

H.R. 741 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.00741:

H.R. 742 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.00742:

Speak Up, Speak Out, Get Heard

Oil Tops $62 a Barrel

The price of oil continued its record-breaking surge last week, briefly climbing above $62 a barrel on Thursday before dropping in the aftermath of the attacks in London. Crude oil prices are currently at just over $59 a barrel, but a supply shortage in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Cindy and Hurricane Dennis may lead to another sharp increase this week.

As the summer draws on, experts expect the high oil prices to continue to have a noticeable impact, especially at the gas pump and in the airline industry. The nation’s average price for unleaded regular hit a record $2.31 a gallon this week, up 10 cents from just over two weeks ago, according to the Lundberg Survey.

Meanwhile, with crude oil prices tripling since 2001, the airlines continue to shift the burden onto their workers, who are suffering pay cuts, layoffs and increased workloads.

Analyst Mike Linenberg told Aviation Daily if oil prices stay above $55 per barrel, “we will undoubtedly see capacity cutbacks, bankruptcies and/or liquidations.”

Puerto Rico Helicopter Techs Vote IAM

“I would like to thank our organizing committee for all the hard work they contributed to this campaign,” said Southern Territory Organizing Leader Bobby Sapp. The workers will become members of IAM Local Lodge 2725.

“Local Lodge 2725 Business Agent John Vigueras has done and outstanding job with organizing and servicing,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “This is the first election won in nearly nine years in Puerto Rico by the IAM and I’m sure this will be the first of many more to come. In the Southern Territory, we will leave no stone unturned, and we will leave no worker who wishes union representation high and dry. Our new commitment to organizing in Puerto Rico is reflective of the IAM’s dedication to growing our union.”

Local 1255 Scores Back-to Back Wins

A team effort by members and officers at Local Lodge 1255 in Amarillo, TX led to a pair of organizing victories recently at the PANTEX Nuclear Weapons Facility.

Following an election in late April, Local Lodge President Rick Flores and IAM member Henry Bagwell, President of the Metal Trades Council, worked to organize the Occupational Health Nurses at PANTEX. The nurses stood together through a company challenge of eligibility and voted unanimously for IAM representation.

During the same period President Flores and President Bagwell began the campaign to organize the Laboratory Technicians and the Radiology Health Technicians at the facility. The election was held on July 8, with the technicians voting 20-7 for IAM representation.

“It’s clear that our members had a lot to do with these wins by talking to the Nurses and Technicians about wages and benefits of an IAM Contract,” said Local 1255 President Flores. “Organizing is everyone’s job,” added GVP Bob Martinez. “We owe it to our fellow workers to bring the protections and better pay and benefits to all workers. Thanks to all our members at PANTEX for this win.”

Labor Department Extends LM-30 Deadline

The Department of Labor (DOL) has extended the deadline for union officers and employees to file LM-30 reports until August 15, 2005.

Detailed information concerning the DOL's stepped up enforcement of this reporting requirement was mailed to all IAM district and local lodges on May 10, 2005. All IAM representatives are encouraged to review the DOL webpage at: http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/olms/lm30_information.htm for more specific information concerning this personal reporting requirement.

General inquires about the report may be directed to the IAM Legal Department. Specific questions about individual situations should be directed to the outside counsel retained by the IAM, Jim O'Connell, who can be reached at 202-362-0041. All union officers and employees planning to file reports are encouraged to review their reports with counsel prior to filing.