While Cintas laundry workers’ Painful Truth Tour was pulling into the Bay Area, political appointees in the Department of Labor were hard at work on a "secret rule" to delay federal safety agency's process for assessing the risks chemicals and toxins pose to workers.
This episode reminds me of an earlier Bush administration regulation-— one the Cintas Corporation lobbied for— that allows industrial laundries to process shop towels used to sop-up industrial solvents. Cintas workers say they need stronger not weaker protection from chemical exposure on the job.
"While working, I got nose bleeds, rashes, my eyes burned," Donatilla Alverez, a former Long Island Cintas worker, told Bay Area community leaders and union members while on the Painful Truth Tour.
Can you imagine how weakened safety regulations would affect workers like Donatilla across the country? Cali’s Rep. George Miller, Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee (and sometimes blogger here) is fighting back. He has blasted this latest toxic policy proposal, demanding its withdrawal.
I’d like to give a shout-out to Rep. George Miller who has repeatedly pushed for better safety at Cintas and beyond. To thank Rep. Miller and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, another safety advocate in the House, laundry workers in San Francisco sent postcards encouraging them to keep up their amazing work.
Unfortunately, not all members of Congress are like Reps. Miller, Woolsey, and Phil Hare who have all fought hard on these workers’ behalf (and for so many key issues working Americans). Cintas workers know they can’t just rely on OSHA or Elaine Chao’s Dept. of Labor for safe jobs. That’s why they’re standing up and speaking out on this tour. Next week, the Painful Truth is going to Disney World! Ok, well maybe just Orlando. But it’s close. Check back for updates.
