WHEREAS:

Since the United States’ first confirmed case of COVID-19 in January 2020, over 90 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and more than 1 million people have died of it; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME has long called on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a permanent infectious disease standard to protect health care workers; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME has also urged OSHA to issue a comprehensive emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect all workers at risk of occupational exposure to COVID-19; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME has challenged OSHA’s delay in issuing a permanent infectious disease standard for health care workers and its nonenforcement of the COVID-19 Healthcare ETS through separate lawsuits against the agency; and

WHEREAS:

In November of 2021, OSHA released an ETS designed to protect over 80 million workers from the spread of COVID-19 on the job; and

WHEREAS:

The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 13, 2022, blocked enforcement of that ETS, ruling that OSHA exceeded its statutory authority; and

WHEREAS:

State and local government employees in 23 states and the District of Columbia are not covered by OSHA-approved state plans and therefore are covered only by whatever laws or rules have been adopted by states and local governments, which often provide no or few occupational safety and health protections.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

AFSCME calls on employers to implement COVID-19 safety measures in the workplace and encourage employees to get vaccinated and boosted. Where appropriate, employers should encourage workers to wear face coverings in public settings and practice social distancing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

AFSCME urges OSHA to move quickly to issue a permanent COVID-19 healthcare standard and propose a permanent infectious disease standard for health care workers; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

AFSCME continues to urge that Occupational Safety and Health Act protections, including those related to COVID-19 and infectious disease, be extended to all public sector workers, not just those who are in states with OSHA-approved state plans.

SUBMITTED BY:
Denise Duncan, RN, President and Delegate
Charmaine Morales, RN, Vice President and Delegate
UNAC/UHCP, NUHHCE/AFSCME Local 1199
California