Though workplace fatalities and serious injuries are decreasing overall, statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that workplace fatalities and injuries among Latino and Hispanic workers are increasing, and at a higher rate than injuries of any other group. At the same time, employers are moving away from offering full-time employment, instead relying on so-called independent contractors, temporary workers and day laborers.
These workers are often not covered by protections like workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and paid sick leave, yet they are often doing the most dangerous jobs.
We are comprised of representatives from organized labor, community groups, legal organizations, and others from around the state.
Our issues of focus are:
- Improving the workers’ compensation system and ending retaliation for using the system.
- The dangers of working at high temperatures without proper protections.
- Ending worker exposure to pesticides and toxins.
- Ending sexual harassment, violence and bullying at work.
We also work to foster better communication between Oregon OSHA and workers, especially hard-to-reach workers, by meeting with leadership at Oregon OSHA regularly.
Safe Jobs Oregon works to ensure that all workers have the right to safe workplaces and meaningful remedies if they are hurt at work.
Please contact Kate Suisman at kate@nwjp.org for more information or to get involved.