National LCLAA 2008 Membership Convention

7. Resolution: Demand Full Enforcement and Increased Safety and Health Standards at the Workplace to

Ensure Safety and Health Protections for All Workers.

Whereas, fatalities among foreign-born workers have been on the rise, increasing by 63 percent, from 635

fatalities in 1992 to 1,035 fatalities in 2005;

Whereas, Latino and immigrant workers have a high rate of fatalities largely because they work

disproportionately in dangerous jobs and dangerous industries; and

Whereas, since 1992, when BLS began its Census of Fatal Occupation Injuries (CFOI), job fatalities among

Hispanic or Latino workers have increased by 86 percent, from 533 to 967 deaths in 2006;.

Whereas in 2006, the last year for which we have statistics, the fatality rate for Hispanic or Latino workers

increased 7 percent over 2005; and,

Whereas, there was a comparable increase of 2 percent among all U.S. workers during the same period; and,

Whereas, the fatality rate among Hispanic or Latino workers in 2006 was 25 percent higher than the rate for all

US workers; and

Whereas, more than 667 of the 990 Hispanic worker deaths in 2006 were to those born outside the United

States; and

Whereas, many of these workers are unorganized, and do not know or are unable to exercise their legal rights;

and

Whereas, many do not receive training in safety and health and are not provided adequate protection by their

employers; and

Whereas, those whose immigration status is undocumented are particular vulnerable and fearful to speak out,

and

Whereas, the Bush Administration has, for the last seven years, increased emphasis on employer assistance and

voluntary compliance, and attempted to cut funding for worker training; and

Whereas, the Bush Administration has withdrawn or repeatedly delayed important standards which would have

protected the health and safety of workers in general and immigrants in particular; and,

Whereas, the first and foremost protection for the safety and health of working people is that provided by a

union; therefore,

Be It Resolved, that LCLAA demands that Congress enact the Employee Free Choice Act which will allow

workers to more readily organize; and

Be It Further Resolved, that LCLLA, demands that OSHA, as an agency, adopt a formal policy to be

"immigration status blind" and neither inquire into, and deem irrelevant to all enforcement activity any

reference to a workers' immigration status,