The bureau announced these figures as American labor unions came under increasing political attack. Republican governors and Republican-controlled legislatures in Wisconsin and elsewhere have moved to diminish public employees’ rights to collective bargaining. More recently, Indiana is moving to become the first state in over a decade to implement a “right to work” law, which bars employers and unions from entering into contracts that require workers to pay fees for union representation.

According to the BLS, unions currently represent 16.3 million workers, some 1.5 million more than the total membership, suggesting that many workers choose to refrain from joining the unions that represent them in their place of work.

The percentage of public sector workers in unions stood at 37% last year, more than five times higher than the 6.9% membership rate for private sector employees. By comparison, more than 35% of private sector workers belonged to unions in the 1950s.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that the total number of private sector employees in unions rose by 110,000 to 7.2 million, aided by a partial recovery in manufacturing and construction sectors. Yet as an increasing number of states, cities and school districts lay off workers, the number of public sector employees in unions fell 61,000, to 7.56 million.

The Labor Department reported that the highest union rates were in New York State, where 24.1% of workers are members; this is followed by Alaska (22.1%) and Hawaii (21.5%). North Carolina currently has the lowest rate at a mere 2.9%, followed by South Carolina (3.4%) and Georgia (3.9%).

If you are in need of a Washington Employment Attorney, Workers Compensation Lawyer, or need experienced counsel for any part of your L&I Claim, contact Emery Reddy for help with your case.  Our team can also provide confidential legal advice and representation to workers who have been ordered to complete an independent medical examination for a workplace injury.

In response to these workplace injuries – along with other health and safety hazards common among workers in the primary metals industry –the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has joined in a national campaign headed by OSHA to reduce serious injuries and enhance workplace safety across the industry. L&I officials estimate that approximately seventy businesses in Washington are in the primary metals industry.

In a statement released by the head of L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), L&I Assistant Director Michael Silverstein offered the following remarks:

“Men and women working in foundries and other jobs where metal is cast or refined face several significant hazards, including exposure to lead and dangerous chemicals, extreme noise and heat, as well as injuries from the machinery and materials being used. With this special emphasis, L&I hopes to reduce the risks these workers face.”

As part of this new worker safety initiative, L&I has created a web page specifically devoted to reducing workplace hazards in the metals industry; the page also provides training materials and other relevant resources. Washington workers and employers are encouraged to visit the site here: www.PrimaryMetals.Lni.wa.gov.

The new workplace safety campaign also includes a mailing of informational literature to nearly seventy businesses in Washington that fall within the primary metals category. For those interested in seeing images of two serious workplace injuries caused by to molten metal, L&I has also put together a slideshow (viewer discretion advised). Finally, Washington L&I plans to expand enforcement inspections throughout the state.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) launched a nationwide program to protect metal workers last year. Officials stated that due to the hazards of this workplace, workers in the metal industry have an injury and fatality rate exceeding many other industrial jobs. This trend, unfortunately, holds true in Washington State as well.

Employers and managers who oversee worker safety are encouraged to request individualized help in addressing workplace hazards by contacting an L&I Safety and Health consultant, or by calling a local L&I office.

If you have suffered a workplace injury or have an occupational illness, contact a Seattle L&I Lawyer at Emery Reddy today for help with your L&I claim.

Broadcast version of L&I’s news release:

“The Department of Labor & Industries has joined a national effort to improve safety at smelters, foundries and other metal processing facilities that make up the state’s primary metals industry. The effort involves increased inspections, more safety and health outreach into the industry, including the development of a new L&I web page, with training materials and other information. Businesses in this industry should expect to receive a postcard in the mail announcing the effort.”

2010’s rate is the lowest recorded in Washington since 2003, when the injury rate stood at 6.9. 2003 was the year when L&I adopted the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which is also used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Within private industries themselves, Washington’s injury and illness rate is still above the average national rate. Injuries among Washington workers stood at 4.8 per 100 full-time employees in 2010, while the national rate was 3.5.

Nearly every major industry in Washington showed better numbers in 2010. Injury and illness rates among construction workers, for instance, fell from 8.2 per 100 in 2009 to 7.2 in 2010. Nursing and Residential Care Facilities experienced a decline of 11.4 injuries per 100 workers in 2009 to 9.4 injuries last year.

Another significant change in this latest survey was the occurrence of “serious injuries” – injuries severe enough to prevent a worker from performing their usual job duties. In 2010, half of workers who were injured or became ill were in need of time off or modified work duties during recovery. That rate represented a drop of a few percentage points from the 2009 rate.

If you have been injured at work or have developed a work-related illness and need help with your L&I Claim, contact a Washington Workers Compensation Lawyer for assistance with your case. Our attorneys also provide confidential legal advice and professional observers to accompany workers during the independent medical examination process.

Following this ruling, OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels released this statement:

“Airline workers must be free to raise safety and security concerns, and companies that diminish those rights through intimidation or retaliation must be held accountable. Airline safety is of vital importance, not only to the workers, but to the millions of Americans who use our airways.”

Upon termination from flight status in August of 2007, the pilot alleged that AirTran Airways – a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines – had fired him as an act of retaliation for his numerous mechanical malfunction reports, or PIREPS. According to the pilot, ATA held only a “faux” internal investigation in response to the mechanical malfunction reports; that hearing lasted a mere 17 minutes. A week after the hearing, ATA fired the pilot, claiming that he failed to “satisfactorily” answer a question regarding the spike in his malfunction reports. OSHA determined that the pilot did not, in fact, refuse to answer any questions during the hearing; furthermore, the answers were entirely appropriate to the queries, and the termination was purely retaliatory.

Michaels expanded on his press release by noting that “retaliating against a pilot for reporting mechanical malfunctions is not consistent with a company that values the safety of its workers and customers. Whistleblower laws are designed to protect workers’ rights to speak out when they have safety concerns, and the Labor Department will vigilantly protect and defend those fundamental rights.”

At this point in the process, either party—plaintiff or defendant—can file an appeal with the Office of Administrative Law Judges, but such an appeal will not stay the preliminary reinstatement order.

OSHA’s website provides the following information on whistleblower protections:

OSHA enforces the whistleblower provision of AIR21, as well as 20 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various securities, trucking, workplace health and safety, nuclear, pipeline, environmental, rail, maritime, health care, consumer product and food safety laws.

Employees who believe that they have been retaliated against for engaging in protected conduct may file a complaint with the secretary of labor for an investigation by OSHA’s Whistleblower Protection Program.

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742), the agency’s Atlanta Regional Office at 678-237-0400 or its Tampa Area Office at 813-626-1177.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

If you believe you are the victim of wrongful termination, workplace discrimination, or retaliatory practices, contact a Seattle Employment Attorney for help with your case.

The rule was enacted in response to a bill passed by the Washington State Legislature, which requires L&I to implement protections that abide by recommendations in the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health reports of 2004 and 2010.

L&I will host a public meeting to discuss the creation of a Hazardous Drugs Advisory Committee, as well as model programs that support employers as they implement the rule.  This event will take place at the L&I Tumwater building from 2 – 4 pm on Wednesday, January 25^th. The Auditorium is located at:

Department of Labor & Industries Auditorium
7273 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501-5414

When the Hazardous Drugs rule goes into effect it will cover all health care settings where workers come into contact with these hazardous drugs. Some of those substances have been identified as cancer-causing agents, while others are known to cause irreversible harm to health care workers – even at low-level exposure rates.

Under this new rule, “health care facilities” will be defined as sites where a health care provider administers medical care to patients.

The rule includes minimum requirements for advancing a hazardous drug control program.  Using existing hazard assessments, employers will establish programs to reduce or eliminate employee exposure to hazardous substances.

If you or someone you know has suffered a work-related illness due to exposure to hazardous substances, contact an Employment Attorney at Emery Reddy for help recovering damages.

Visit OSHA’s Winter Storms Web page.

During winter months, employees who work in snow storms experience increased rates of injuries, as shown by increased L&I claims during these extreme conditions. OSHA’s new online tool offers tips and guidelines for how Washington employers and workers engaged in clean-up and recovery operations can identify hazards inherent in snow storm conditions, and take necessary steps to ensure worker safety while carrying out their jobs in wintry conditions. The webpage includes best practices and directions for workers whose activities may lead them to clear heavy snow around workplaces or from rooftops; encounter downed power lines; travel on slick or icy roads; or restore power after storms.

Hazards related to work in winter storm conditions include:

• Workers being struck by falling objects (icicles, tree limbs, utility poles, etc)
• Vehicle accidents on icy roadways
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Dehydration, hypothermia or frostbite
• Exhaustion from overexertion
• Back injuries – or even heart attacks – while removing snow
• Slips & falls on slippery walkways
• Electrocution from downed power lines and objects in contact with them
• Burns from fires caused by energized line contact or equipment failure
• Falls from rooftop snow removal, or while working on aerial lifts or ladders
• Roof collapse under excess snow weight
• Injuries from improperly operated chain saws and power tools, or from improperly attempting to clear jams in snow blowers

In response to these winter hazards and the work-related injuries that often occur in such condition, OSHA details the most effective measures for minimizing winter storm hazards. These include:

• Approaching all power lines as if they were energized, and staying completely clear of downed or damaged power lines
• Ensuring all powered equipment is properly guarded and disconnected from power sources before cleaning or performing maintenance
• Using extremely caution on and around surfaces that are weighed down by snow or ice
• Shoveling only moderate to small amounts of snow at a time, and using appropriate lifting form to avoid back injuries
• Keeping walking surfaces clear of snow and ice; use salt where appropriate
• Employers should provide and ensure the use of fall protection measures, and maintain ladders in good working condition
• Remaining in one’s vehicle in the case of roadway emergency. Occupants should not leave a vehicle unless help is visible within 100 yards
• Wearing reflective uniforms or clothing, as well as face and body protection
• Clearly marking work zones
• Using engineering controls, personal protective equipment and safe work practices to minimize the length of exposure to cold.

The new Winter Storms Web page provides links to OSHA guidelines, as well as advice from Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, the National Weather Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Safety Council and other relevant organizations.

As OSHA explains on its website: “Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.”

The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs at the U.S. Department of Labor just issued its final ruling to implement an exclusion for recreational vessel workers under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. The rule sets guidelines for what constitutes a “recreational vessel” under the exclusion.

The LHWCA provides compensation to workers (or surviving family members, in cases of death) for on-the-job injuries that occur during maritime employment on U.S. navigable waters. Before 2009, employees who performed repair or dismantling work on recreational vessels less than 65 feet long were not eligible for benefits through LHWCA if they were already covered by a state workers’ compensation program. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act extended this exclusion by removing the 65-foot restriction; following the amendment, workers who repair recreational vessels of any length, or who dismantle vessels for repair, are excluded from LHWCA coverage if they have coverage under a state workers’ compensation system.

This rule follows a number of recommendations put forward by the public during open comment sessions on the proposed rule from Aug. 17, 2010. The final rule adopts standards set by the U.S. Coast Guard to define a recreational vessel. The Labor Department has also tacked on two additional provisions to simplify the process of applying these standards in the LHWCA context:

1. A manufacturer or builder can make determinations about whether vessels are recreational under the meaning of the regulation based on that vessel’s design, rather than on its ultimate use.
2. Noncommercial vessels with a recreational “design” that are owned or chartered by federal or state governments will be defined as recreational vessels.

The rule is described in detail at the Federal Register’s website: http://federalregister.gov/a/2011-32880. Additional information is available on OWCP’s website at http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dlhwc/lsnewregulation.htm.

The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs administers several disability benefit programs that cover longshore and harbor workers, federal government civilian contractors who work overseas, coal miners, federal employees and nuclear weapons workers. These programs provide a variety of benefits, including income replacement, medical benefits, vocational rehabilitation and survivor benefits. For more information about these programs, visit http://www.dol.gov/owcp.

If you have sustained an injury at work, we encourage you to contact a Washington Workers Compensation Attorney for help with your claim.

Lauren Eason, an Arkansas woman receiving workers compensation for a knee injury, requested a change of physicians in 2011, at which time she transferred to the care of Dr. Harold Chakales. Under Arkansas law, a worker can only change physicians once; so when Dr. Chakales passed away in December, the Workers’ Compensation Commission sent Eason a letter notifying her that they “cannot approve another change in this claim. We are constrained by the law.”

“We’re just kind of in workers’ comp limbo,” Eason said.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission,  Alan McClain, the case presents some sticky legal challenges and administrative impediments, but McClain remained hopeful that the case could be resolved before long. “There seems to be maybe at least some to getting that order entered,” McClain told a reported. “But practically speaking [Eason] should be able to see a doctor really soon and we can facilitate that communication … it could take six months. But that’s the long end of it. It would probably be closer to three months.”

Workers Compensation commentators were quick to weigh in on the situation: “Surely the state can do better for these people than a nightmarish 3 to 6 month administrative wait,” said Robert Wilson. “I certainly do understand that the law is the law, but I also recognize common sense is common sense.”

Eason’s attorney pointed out that the problem is not just isolated to his client noting that more than 100 injured workers are in a similar state of limbo due to rules restricting a change of physician request.

McClain did note the Arkansas State House has been looking into changing the existing law regarding injured workers’ ability to change their physicans: but ironically, rather than loosening restrictions, they have been considering a complete ban on claimants changing physicians at all.

Whether these rules go into effect remains to be seen.  In the meanwhile, Eason will have to endure her knee injury, as her old phsician will not be returning to the office before this case gets resolved.

Washington’s new Stay at Work program is open to employers who pay workers’ compensation premiums to L&I. The program partially reimburses those businesses for the cost of returning employees with a work injury to light-duty jobs before they have medical clearance to return to their primary positions.

While the program was just launched yesterday, the legislation that produced it went into effect in June of 2011.  L&I claim managers anticipate that thousands of reimbursement requests from businesses who’ve already been offering light-duty jobs to employees with work-related injury during the period since the legislation passed.

The new program is one of a number of historic workers’ compensation reforms to come out of the 2011 Washington legislative session. These reforms are intended to lower costs and improve the recovery rates for workers with on-the-job injuries.

“The Stay at Work program gives us a unique opportunity to give Washington businesses an active role in their injured workers’ recoveries and return to productive employment,” said L&I Assistant Director for Insurance Services, Beth Dupre. “Most important, we have a much better chance of helping injured workers stay on salary and in the game while they recover under their doctor’s care.”

Employers participating in the Stay at Work program help injured workers by creating light-duty or “transitional” jobs that adhere to physician’s recommendations and medical restrictions. Some workers will need to undergo an Independent Medical Examination as part of this process. During the prescribed recovery time, the injured worker earns wages from the employer rather than receiving time-loss compensation from L&I.  For example, a worker with a construction site injury might take an inventory job while recovering from a back injury. Then through the Stay at Work program, L&I reimburses the employer for half of the worker’s base wage, plus some additional expenses (not to exceed $10,000 per L&I claim).

The program has already proved effective in Oregon, showing a tendency to speed recovery time and reduce long-term disability for a given workers compensation injury.  Medical studies indicate that many workers recovering from an injury are less likely to suffer from long-term disability when they remain active and engaged.

“This is a win-win for our employers,” Dupre said.  “It’s a strategy that will help their businesses and workers, and it won’t negatively impact their premium costs.”

If you need help with your L&I injury claim, contact a Seattle L&I Attorney.

The Department of Labor & Industries re-adjusts the state minimum wage every September, as mandated by the voter-approved Initiative 688.  That initiative went into effect in 1998, and requires the state to adjust its minimum wage according to changes in the federal CPI-W, a national index of the cost of goods and services necessary for daily living. The index increased 4.3% over this past year.

L&I provides employers with poster announcements of the new 2012 minimum wage; these can be printed and displayed as needed. The announcement is offered as a convenience only; neither L&I nor Washington State law requires businesses to display these. However, employers do need to post the “Your Rights as a Worker” poster, which gives general information regarding the minimum wage and other related topics.  These workplace posters are available free of charge from any L&I office, and can be downloaded from the L&I website.

Does the Minimum Wage Increase Unemployment?

Some economic theorists argue that a minimum wage set above a so-called “natural market wage” produces higher unemployment – especially for unskilled workers or others who might be considered a “risk” to employ. However, experts hotly debate this question using a wide variety of data, economic theory, and historical cases.

Seattle Times editorialist Bruce Ramsey cautiously suggests that higher unemployment could result from higher wages. He bases his misgivings about the new minimum wage on comparative state figures for the number of workers experiencing underemployment (defined as officially unemployed — not working and looking for work), workers employed part-time but seeking full-time work, “other marginally attached” workers, and individuals who want a job but are discouraged from looking. In light of these figures, Ramsey offers the following account:

“Combined, these ‘underemployed’ were the biggest problem in Oregon, Alaska, Washington, Michigan and California, in that order. This was not for one year, but was an average of 2003 to 2010, which includes boom years and recession years. Notable was that every one of the five states with the worst underemployment has a state minimum wage higher than the federal minimum of $7.25: Oregon is at $8.80, Alaska $7.75, Washington $9.04, Michigan $7.40 and California $8.00. (The listdoes not include the changes since 2003.) The five states with the lowest underemployment from 2003 to 2010 were Nebraska, Delaware, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Virginia. None has a state minimum higher than $7.25. If you start with the states with the highest minimum and see where they fall, there is less correlation. Still, Washington and Oregon have the highest state minimums, and in the period of 2003-2010 they were third and first, respectively, in rates of underemployment. That is not proof of economic theory–there are lots of reasons why a state will do well or poorly–but it is suggestive.”

However, other experts refute these implications, citing studies that suggest a zero (or near-zero) net job loss resulting from higher minimum wage rates. In an interview with NPR, David Cooper, an analyst with the pro-labor Economic Policy Institute, argues the minimum wage is especially important to America’s struggling workforce now:

“When you have lines of the unemployed around the corner looking for jobs, there’s no real pressure for employers to raise wages,” Cooper says.

And in this age of Occupy Wall Street, Cooper says, pushing up that wage floor is one way to address growing income inequality.

“Increases in the minimum wage are essentially a shift from corporate profits to low-wage employees,” he says. “And we know that low-wage employees spend more of their money. They’re going to spend essentially every penny they get, so that increased demand is going to result in more economic activity and potentially more jobs.”

If you are involved in a wage or hour dispute with your employer, contact a Seattle Employment Attorney or Wage & Hour Violation Attorney to represent your case.