Fremont, OH – Nearly one year into the pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor finally issued strong guidance to protect workers at risk of contracting COVID-19 on the job. This follows the White House’s National Strategy for the Covid-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, which President Biden issued his first full day in office.
“In two weeks, the Biden Administration has already done more to protect U.S. workers than the Trump Administration did in twelve months,” said Beatriz Maya, Executive Director, La Conexión. “But so many workers and their family members have already gotten sick, and even died, due to the federal government’s delay. Let the Biden Administration’s actions begin a real national commitment to protect all workers in every industry. That means strong guidance and mandates, and equally strong enforcement of labor standards, guided by workers’ voices–not just posting yard signs.”
Mónica Ramírez, Founder and President of Justice for Migrant Women, added: “We are pleased to see the Biden Administration take first steps to prioritize the protection of essential workers. The COVID-19 Preparedness Executive Order and new OSHA guidance must be followed by issuance of an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), enforced vigorously across industries, including agriculture. Mandates are necessary to ensure that employees, including farmworkers and other migrant women, are not at risk of illness or death in the workplace.. Our communities in Ohio are safer and healthier when mandates to protect employees are in place. .”
Essential Ohio is a state-wide campaign to create long-lasting change for essential workers: raising labor standards, improving safety, and honoring workers’ power.
#EssentialOH is powered by ABLE, Justice for Migrant Women, the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, Cleveland Jobs with Justice, La Conexión, Policy Matters, Cincinnati Interfaith Workers Center, and Central Ohio Worker Center. Essential Ohio is part of a national campaign, Always Essential.
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