FIGHTING FOR WORKERS’ RIGHTS

Twelve years of Republican majorities in Congress and hostile policies coming from the Bush Administration have left protections for American workers in a weakened state. That’s why, as Chairwoman of the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, I have been working to support our working families.

SUPPORTING OUR WORKING FAMILIES:

• Increasing the minimum wage and strengthening unions are some of the best ways we can help U.S. workers. In July, 2008, workers began to enjoy the second of three much-needed increases in the minimum wage.  They now make $6.55 an hour and in July, 2009, will make $7.25.  Also, the House passed the Employee Free Choice Act, which will make it easier for workers to form unions.

• We need to ensure that the American Dream works for everyone, by putting into place policies that help create good jobs and support family friendly policies. That’s why I reintroduced The Balancing Act.  Among other things, this legislation would allow for extension of the Family and Medical Leave Act, expanded benefits for part-time workers and incentives for parents to work from home.  During the 110th Congress, the Subcommittee held a series of hearing on balancing work and family.

• In addition, families of service members injured in armed conflicts need leave from work to care for their loved ones.  I worked with Senators Dodd and Clinton to introduce the Injured Servicemembers Act, which has since been enacted.  This new law, the first-ever expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act, gives workers up to 6 months of leave from work  for this purpose.

• We must provide workers with safe and healthy workplaces and need to hold OSHA accountable for worker safety.  Unfortunately, this Administration has an abysmal record in protecting worker health and safety and in its entire 8 years, has only published one protective standard. Since we have not been able to count on the Administration, I sponsored a bill to require OSHA to put into immediate effect a standard for “popcorn lung,” a serious respiratory disease affecting workers at microwave popcorn factories and in food flavoring plants.  This bill passed the House, and as a result of the legislation, OSHA stated that it would begin the progress of promulgating a rule.

• Those workers in the private sector who come forward to report violations of the law need to be protected.  These “whistleblowers” provide a valuable public service, but our current laws do not protect them adequately; many are demoted, lose their jobs or are blacklisted.  As a result, I introduced legislation, The Private Sector Whistleblower Streamlining Act to protect these workers and to make it easier for them to pursue claims of retaliation.

• We must work to secure the pensions workers have been promised.  To change company rules midway through workers’ careers – as recommended in proposed regulations – would only further undermine their retirement security. I will continue to work to protect the promises workers have been given.

• Due largely to lack of oversight and coordination between federal agencies, as well as lackluster enforcement efforts, at least 10 million workers are deliberately misclassified as independent contractors when they are really employees.  The practice is detrimental to workers who lose their rights to workers’ compensation coverage, minimum and overtime wages, family and medical leave and the right to organize and collectively bargain.  Misclassification also harms us since the practice is a form of tax cheating, cutting revenues as employers fail proper payroll taxes.  Along with Representatives Andrews, Miller and Michaud, I have introduced the Employee Misclassification Prevention Act to toughen law enforcement and efforts to stop misclassification.

• Home health care workers perform a valuable service by taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves.  As the baby boomers age, there will be an increased demand for these workers.  Yet, there is currently a shortage of them and little incentive to pursue this line of work, especially in the face of a recent Supreme Court case, which found that home health care workers employed by 3rd party agencies are not entitled to minimum wages and overtime pay.  So I have introduced the Fair Home Health Care Act, which will restore these labor protections to home health care workers.

These policies are good down-payments on ensuring that we get back to protecting American workers first and foremost.  I have embarked on an ambitious schedule to undue the harm that has been done by anti-worker policies, and I look forward to continue pushing back and righting past wrongs.

(updated Sept. 2008)