The "good-cop bad-cop" strategy that corporate America had been using, trying to persuade federal OSHA regulators to set friendly rules governing ergonomically related workplace hazards, is now in its "bad cop" phase. During the past few years, they have been hard at work encouraging soft rules. That means rules that would encourage, not require, employers to provide time off from repetitive motion work rules; provide safer methods for handling materials and other strategies to stop this epidemic of hand and arm disabilities. Combined with this "friendly" strategy were direct meetings with OSHA officials, trying to influence other policy makers. The employers main strategy is campaign contributions to both political parties, but with the Republican Party getting the lion’s share of the contributions.

Well, that period is just about over. OSHA has decided to follow their original Congressional mandate and establish federal rules and regulations that just might begin the process of protecting workers from this clear and present danger. The facts simply could not be denied.

Enter the United Parcel Service (UPS) and, it certainly makes sense that the anti-worker, anti-union UPS should take the lead. Remember in 1993 when they took on the Teamsters Union on the amount of weight a UPS driver should handle. They blithely said that they were increasing the weight limit from 70 to 150 pounds. Acting in their typical arrogant manner, they produced four video-tapes showing how simple it is to move 150 pounds and proceeded to force workers into this dangerous world. The U.C. teamsters said NO. And, in an unprecedented action, the Teamsters called a one-day strike. That stopped UPS in their tracks. UPS doesn’t even recognize the term ergonomics. They call it package handling methods.

Now, they are the lead company to stop the OSHA rule. Employers claim that the OSHA rule will cost about $5 billion. UPS said their costs would be more than their annual income. Extreme statements from UPS are not new. It certainly flies in the face of the often corporate liberalism that they like to portray.

Other industries are crying the blues about the OSHA rules, but UPS, given its very deep financial pockets is crucial to passage of the OSHA rule.

UPS is a campaign-smart corporation. They will be giving large quantities of their profit to candidates for this year’s Congress. When labor and community activists meet with candidates for the House and Senate be sure to ask their opinion on the OSHA Ergonomic rule. And, be sure, if given a chance, ask the candidates for President the same thing. This is our opportunity after over 15 years of hard fought rule-making development in Washington, D.C. to get this rule established. Let’s not miss this chance.

"In the United States, the annual age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates for multiple Myeloma rose sharply from the 1950s to the 1980s and then leveled off, with rates two-fold higher among Blacks than among whites. Among Blacks, 37 percent of multiple Myeloma occurrence was related to low occupation-based socio-economic-status, compared with 17 percent among whites." This study as reported in the American Journal of Public Health says that this differential is due to "negative environmental characteristics, poor housing, dangerous jobs, unemployment, lack of medical access, stressful work environment, poor nutrition and exposure to infectious agents."

Immediate and aggressive action by the Centers for Disease Control and OSHA should address the disaster and similar disasters.