OSHA Training Grant Program: Something Missing?

I wrote last week of OSHA's repeated attempts to replace the highly successful $11 million Susan Harwood Training Program with a $4 million web and electronic training program.

If that's not bad enough, check out OSHA's press release about it's FY 2005 budget.

Revised Training Grant Program

Under the President's proposed budget, OSHA would revise the Susan Harwood training grants program to focus on new technologies and emphasize development of training materials rather than delivery of training. The program would be open to colleges, universities and community colleges; faith-based and community-based groups; and professional organizations. Training products could be delivered through new technologies, such as the web. Developers would track and evaluate the use of the training.

Notice anything missing?

LIKE LABOR UNIONS?

OSHA has been phasing unions out of the worker training grants. Out of the 50 new grants that OSHA announced in 2003, only 4 (or 8%) go to unions or labor-management coalitions, while 14 (or 28%) go to businesses or business associations.

On the other hand, maybe it was just an oversight. Workers are so easy to forget about these days at the Department of Labor.