Thursday, August 07, 2003

Ergo Repeal Qualifies for Washington Ballot

This pretty much says it all
OLYMPIA, Wash. - An initiative to repeal the state's sweeping workplace-ergonomics rules qualified for the November ballot after a $350,000 campaign by homebuilders who called the regulations "an unnecessary job-killer."
The initiative would immediately repeal the ergonomics rules issued by the Department of Labor and Industries in 2000 in a bid to reduce worker injuries caused by repetitive motion, heavy lifting, and awkward working positions.
But the BIA didn’t just have money, they have the untruth (lies) on their side as well. See here and here and here.

(In case you want the true facts about the Washington State ergo standard, click here.)

The State AFL-CIO doesn't think much of the initiative either:
BIAW cash, lies land I-841 on ballot despite bogus signatures

Despite uncovering an extraordinarily high number of invalid and potentially fraudulent signatures, the Secretary of State's office announced Wednesday that the Building Industry Association of Washington's Initiative 841 to repeal our state workplace ergonomic safety rule narrowly qualified for November's ballot.

Time out for a little humor. Apparently the Associated Press headline writers don’t know their geography very well. Here’s the original headline about the Washington STATE ergonomics repeal:
Thursday, August 7, 2003 · Last updated 6:44 a.m. PT
Ergonomics repeal ready for D.C. ballot

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- An initiative to repeal the state's sweeping workplace-ergonomics rules qualified for the November ballot after a $350,000 campaign by homebuilders who called the regulations "an unnecessary job-killer."
Seen one Washington, you’ve seen ‘em all.