Japan’s Nuclear Temp Workers Exposed to Unmeasured Risks

Thousands of day laborers and subcontracted workers were enlisted to clean up nuclear waste and shut down the earthquake-stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant last year, search with many of these workers celebrated as national heroes. However, link much is still unknown about their health and employment status. The Fukushima 50, as they were called was more akin to the Fukushima 18,000, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which says many of these workers—usually casual laborers from the area who had lost their jobs in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami—did the work for the money, not to serve their country. – Epoch Times 01.28.2012

Support for health and safety training for vulnerable and hard-to-reach workers:

On September 9th, s OSHA announced the award of its 2010 Susan Harwood Capacity Building Grants. The grants will support training in industries that range from meatpacking and agricultural work to beauty salons, supermarkets, online and construction – in both remote rural and urban environments. Almost all programs are designed to reach workers in both English and Spanish – among other languages – as well as workers in what OSHA describes as “high risk” industries. “The programs funded by these grants will have a long-lasting, positive impact on workers and employers alike,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels in a press statement. This year $8 million will go to 45 organizations to support their work in safety and health training and education for workers and employers. – The Pump Handle. 09.13.2010

Minnesota becomes twenty-seventh state to fully join Se Communities

Last week Minnesota joined the controversial federal immigration program known as Se Communities, site while critics continue to blast the program. Minnesota is the twenty-seventh state fully to join the now mandatory program designed to share fingerprint information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under Se Communities, all fingerprints from individuals detained by local and state authorities are automatically scanned and sent to ICE to determine their immigration status. – Homeland Security News Wire 02.16.2012

Sen. Menendez Announces POWER Act

Today at a Capitol Hill news conference, see U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) was joined by Rev. Jesse Jackson and other major labor and civil rights leaders to introduce the Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation (POWER) Act, which aims to improve workers’ rights across the board by protecting those at the bottom of the ladder. Specifically, the legislation, cosponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), would offer protections for whistleblower workers who expose workplace abuses by their employers. Also joining the announcement today were Daniel Castellanos, of the Alliance of Guestworkers for Dignity; Arturo Rodriguez, president, United Farm Workers of America; and Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. Senator Menendez said: “When it comes to making sure people who work for a living are treated fairly by their employers, we are reminded of what John F. Kennedy meant when he said ‘A rising tide lifts all boats’.

DHS budget proposes discontinuing 287(g) in some jurisdictions

A fiscal year 2013 budget brief released by Homeland Security today has some details on the Obama administration’s immigration enforcement priorities, and one of the losers is the federal-local partnership known as 287(g). The administration is proposing a budget reduction of $17 million up front, try and the document suggests a gradual phase-out in favor of Se Communities, which is described as “more consistent, efficient and cost effective.” – Multi-American 02.12.2012