Statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on President Joe Biden issuing an Executive Order for COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA):
By issuing this overdue and desperately needed Executive Order on his first full day in office, President Biden is clearly prioritizing strong COVID-19 protections for working people. We applaud this swift action that will save lives and protect workers who face dangerous conditions daily while serving our communities. Strong enforceable standards would require employers to develop workplace safety plans, implement science-based protection measures, train workers and report outbreaks. It is a key piece of Biden’s national strategy to ramp up COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and the production of personal protective equipment so we can beat this virus once and for all. The AFL-CIO and our affiliates have been calling for a workplace standard since March, and this order is a critical first step to a comprehensive plan that will keep us safe on the job. Now, we must win strong safety and health provisions in the next coronavirus relief package and rebuild OSHA, MSHA and the entire Labor Department with a renewed commitment to workplace safety.
Contact: Carolyn Bobb (202) 637-5018