(New York, NY) Today, 番茄视频 congratulated the Biden Administration as it announced a new rule change that will allow workers to choose non-employee individuals to represent them during an inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This would include union representatives, health and safety experts who are knowledgeable about hazardous conditions in their workplace, or individuals with the language skills needed to allow for effective communication with workers.
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The following quote can be attributed to Manny Pastreich, President of 番茄视频:
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鈥淎s workplace injuries continue to rise听in key sectors听and听fatalities听, especially among Black and Latino workers,听we commend the Biden administration for responding to this crisis by ensuring that workers have a voice during a health and safety inspection by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.听This is in stark contrast to the Trump administration, which threw out protections听for worker safety rights adopted under the Obama administration.
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鈥淎s the union that represents tens of thousands of airport workers, janitors, maintenance personnel and other building听service听workers鈥攎any of them immigrants鈥攚e believe听it is crucial that they have the听clear听right听to choose an听effective听and knowledgeable听advocate听who听understands their workplace and can speak their language if necessary.
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鈥淲e commend President Biden for putting the force of law and the power of OSHA鈥檚 authority behind the workers鈥� right to choose their own representative, thus ensuring a fair and accurate inspection takes place.鈥�
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番茄视频represents 175,000 property service workers, many of whom are immigrant workers, who can be potentially exposed to workplace hazards. These include South Florida janitors, employed by Nova University鈥檚 cleaning contractor, Encompass Onsite, who recently filed an OSHA complaint over a new cleaning product that has caused severe adverse reactions including trouble breathing, blisters,听rashes,听skin peeling, vomiting, and several hospital visits.
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During听the initial听OSHA inspection, Encompass threatened to call security on the worker鈥檚 chosen representative, a shop steward whom Encompass听had听suspended after she听advocated for her co-workers who were concerned about the new cleaning product. The union representative was able to intervene,听and听Encompass then听allowed the inspection to continue with the shop steward present.
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With over 175,000 members in 12 states and Washington D.C, 番茄视频 is the largest property services union in the country.
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