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DIRTY DOZEN 2026 - PRESS EVENT

56:19EnglishBy National COSHTranscribed Jul 21, 2026
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0:00

ification

0:05

>> and you so everyone is aware today the

0:07

session will run for an hour and we

0:11

kindly ask you then keep yourselves

0:14

muted. So to ensure the best sound

0:18

quality for the speakers

0:21

and um we will begin with a welcome and

0:24

overview followed by the announcements

0:26

of this year 30 dozen companies powerful

0:30

testimonies and finally the Q&A. So

0:34

please know that the Q&A is reserved for

0:37

the members of the media. Other

0:39

participants are welcome to stay and

0:42

listening. So thanks so much and now I'm

0:46

pleased to introduce Jessica Martinez,

0:50

executive director of National Kosh will

0:52

open the session.

0:55

>> Thank you so much Tochley uh for

0:57

grounding us again in language justing

0:59

in language justice and helping us uh

1:02

bring us together today. Uh good

1:04

morning, good afternoon everyone. It

1:06

depends where you are. We have folks

1:07

representing all different parts of the

1:09

country. So, we welcome all of you and

1:12

thank you for being with us today. As

1:14

Tochley mentioned, my name is Jessica

1:16

Martinez and I have the honor of serving

1:18

as the executive director for the

1:20

National Council for Occupational Safety

1:23

and Health, very well known as National

1:25

Kosh or the National Kosh Network or the

1:28

National Kosh Movement. And we are uh a

1:31

a strong and uh growing network of

1:34

worker centers, local kosh groups, labor

1:37

allies, health and safety advocates,

1:39

organizers, and workers uh which many

1:42

will be on this call today. Uh fighting

1:45

every day for one simple principle,

1:48

which is that every worker deserves to

1:50

come home safe. Uh throughout the year,

1:53

National Kosh works alongside workers

1:55

and communities across the country to

1:58

turn pain into power and fear into

2:00

action. We train workers to know and

2:03

assert their rights. We support

2:05

campaigns to win safer workplaces. We

2:08

help expose dangerous employers and we

2:11

build worker leadership. We fight for

2:13

stronger protections like a federal heat

2:15

standard. and we stand with workers when

2:17

they choose to speak out, organize and

2:21

demand dignity on the job. So, thank you

2:24

to the journalists joining us, to our

2:26

partners across the country, and

2:28

especially to the workers speaking

2:30

today. Uh, many are taking real risk by

2:33

sharing their stories publicly and some

2:36

are speaking anonymously because

2:38

retaliation is real and that fact alone

2:42

says a lot about the moment we are

2:44

living in. So today we released our

2:47

Dirty Dozen 2026 report. Uh when

2:51

companies put profit first, workers pay

2:54

the price. So and sadly that title is

2:58

not symbolic. Across this country,

3:00

workers are still being injured,

3:03

poisoned, exploited, traumatized, and

3:06

killed during their jobs. In the most

3:08

recent federal count, more than 5,000

3:12

on the job,

3:15

ask folks, if they kindly mute

3:17

themselves, were killed on the job. Uh

3:20

5,000 workers were killed on the job in

3:22

one year. And that is one worker every

3:25

104

3:26

minutes. So I want everyone to really

3:29

think about that. Um that is one worker

3:31

every 104 minutes. So before this event

3:34

ends today, um another worker may lose

3:38

their life somewhere in this country

3:40

country simply trying to earn a living,

3:41

which is a sad statistics. And and those

3:44

numbers do not capture really the full

3:47

picture. They do not fully count um

3:50

occupational disease. They do not fully

3:53

count heat deaths. They do not fully

3:55

count immigrant workers afraid to report

3:57

injuries. They do not fully count

3:58

workers pushed off payroll after being

4:00

hurt. And behind every statistic

4:04

uh is a family. We know there's a child,

4:07

a partner, a community that is changed.

4:10

So uh this report comes at a dangerous

4:13

time for workers. Um we know that

4:16

federal workplace health and safety

4:18

penalties have dropped sharply 47% in

4:22

2025. Uh according to Good Jobs First,

4:26

uh OSHA has roughly 1,800 inspectors

4:30

responsible for more than60

4:34

million workers across

4:37

um uh over 8 million workplaces. Um so

4:40

that is a very small number of

4:42

inspectors. Again, that's 1,800

4:44

inspectors for 160 million workers over

4:48

uh 8 million workplaces. So at this pace

4:51

it would take well over a century to

4:53

inspect every workplace once. Um so when

4:57

corporations say the system is working,

5:00

we have to really ask working for who,

5:03

right? Uh because for too many workers

5:06

uh what they experience is extreme heat

5:08

with no real protections, dangerous

5:11

machinery without safeguards, toxic

5:14

chemicals without adequate training,

5:16

wage theft, retaliation for speaking up.

5:20

There's temp worker structures that hide

5:22

accountability, subcontracting chains

5:24

designed so nobody takes responsibility

5:26

when workers are harmed. and workers are

5:29

being asked to observe all the risk

5:31

while companies and corporations collect

5:33

the reward. So uh again dirty doesn't

5:36

exist because too often uh the people

5:40

closest to the danger are completely

5:42

ignored and the list is not randomly uh

5:45

this list is not randomly selected. You

5:48

know every year nominations come in from

5:51

across the national kosh network. We

5:53

receive them from workers, from

5:55

organizers, uh, advocates, occupational

5:59

health and safety professionals, legal

6:00

allies, researchers, and and community

6:03

partners across the country. We review

6:05

public enforcement records. Uh, we talk

6:09

to workers and we hear their worker

6:11

testimonies. We look at legal filings,

6:14

investigations, credible reporting, and

6:17

patterns of abuse. And we look for

6:19

companies that represent something

6:21

larger than a single incident. Uh these

6:24

are companies whose records reveal

6:26

deeper failures, patterns of neglect,

6:30

preventable harm, disregard for worker

6:33

voice, and systems that put profit

6:35

before people. So I want to be super

6:38

clear that these are only 12 companies.

6:41

We know there are many more that could

6:44

be on the list. and dirty dozen is not

6:46

meant to suggest these are the only bad

6:49

actors. It is meant to shine a light on

6:51

a broader crisis.

6:54

So, uh this year's report reveals

6:57

several urgent themes and um it's

7:00

important that we note that some of

7:01

these include uh first uh that heat is

7:04

becoming a workplace emergency. From

7:07

airport tarmacs to factories to farms to

7:10

warehouses, workers are being pushed to

7:12

their limits while federal protections

7:15

remained um unfinished. Uh second, we

7:18

have supply chains that are being used

7:20

to dodge responsibility.

7:23

Uh major brands and corporations benefit

7:25

from layers and layers of

7:27

subcontracting, temp labor, and

7:30

outsourced risk. Um and third is that

7:34

immigrant workers, black and brown

7:35

workers are too often concentrated in

7:37

the most dangerous jobs while facing the

7:39

greatest barriers to speak um out. And

7:43

then lastly, we have also retaliation

7:46

just continues to remain widespread. Too

7:48

many workers know that if they report

7:51

injuries, organize co-workers, or demand

7:54

dignity, they may lose hours, lose

7:56

wages, lose status, or lose their job.

7:59

And and that is not freedom. uh that is

8:02

coercion.

8:04

Uh so today during workers memorial week

8:07

we say clearly

8:09

workplace death is not inevitable.

8:13

Injury is not the cost of doing business

8:16

and silence will not protect unsafe

8:18

employers.

8:19

>> We are here to honor those we have lost.

8:22

We are here to stand with workers still

8:25

fighting. And today we are here to name

8:28

names.

8:30

So, uh, if we can please put up the

8:32

slide, uh, as we announce who made the

8:37

list for 2026.

8:40

Um, and I will start with announcing the

8:43

2026 companies are Alliance Ground

8:47

International,

8:48

Cambria Company LLC,

8:51

Common Spirit Health, Consolidated

8:55

Catfish Producers LLC, Dr. Horton

8:58

Incorporated, Hyundai Kia US Supply

9:02

Chain, Jenny Sod and Nursery, LSG Skyfs,

9:08

Makers Pride LLC, formerly Herdside,

9:13

Ravoli Construction Company,

9:16

Subway,

9:17

Well-made Industries.

9:20

And these companies operate in different

9:22

industries, but they share something in

9:24

common. Workers paid the price.

9:28

Um, so again, that is your dirty dozen

9:32

2026 list. What I'd like to do now is uh

9:36

really hear from the important, you

9:39

know, from the workers from these

9:40

companies, the most important voices uh

9:43

you'll hear today, uh the workers

9:46

themselves. So their stories reveal what

9:48

no statistic alone ever can. their

9:51

courage is fundamental to this report

9:53

and really why we do uh the work that we

9:56

do at national kosh and why this uh

9:58

really matters. So with that said I'm

10:01

going to first welcome a worker a very

10:04

brave worker from consolidated catfish

10:06

speaking anonymously due to fear of

10:09

retaliation.

10:10

uh they will share what workers face

10:12

inside the plant including dangerous

10:15

heat, machine hazards, and daily strain

10:18

uh workers carry to keep production

10:21

moving. So with that said, if I can

10:23

please have the worker from Consolidated

10:25

Catfish join us.

10:31

>> Can you hear me?

10:32

>> Yes.

10:34

>> Tell us.

10:35

>> I am a worker. Mhm.

10:37

>> I am a worker from Consolidated Catfish

10:40

here in Mississippi.

10:42

>> I've worked for Consolidated Catfish for

10:45

several years.

10:47

The things I have witnessed and have

10:50

experienced is beyond

10:54

disbelief.

10:56

I work throughout the facility.

11:01

I have had injuries myself

11:05

and I've seen injuries

11:08

of some of the workers.

11:11

For the most part,

11:13

being silent is not going to help help

11:18

us, but

11:21

it just covers up

11:24

cover up

11:27

>> the unsafe workplace. So,

11:30

I'm speaking out for the ones that

11:33

can't speak out for themsel or are

11:36

afraid to speak out. So,

11:39

I've witnessed

11:44

many

11:46

people having heat strokes and

11:50

and

11:51

many people with limbs and fingers being

11:57

amputated.

11:59

Uh we

12:01

don't have

12:04

one or two water fountains in the

12:08

facility and that's they're not sanitary

12:13

for you to be drinking water. So that

12:16

makes it even worse because we have to

12:19

deal with the heat on a day-to-day basis

12:21

from the machines.

12:24

We we are constantly facing these

12:27

problems and instead of it getting

12:30

better, it's getting worse.

12:32

>> And

12:34

we're not

12:37

we're not here

12:39

to we're here to make a living, but

12:43

we're not trying to kill oursel to make

12:45

a living. So with that being said, I

12:48

mean I feel the need that a lot of

12:51

people are not I'm not

12:56

they are not speaking out because

12:59

>> they're afraid of losing their jobs and

13:01

everything.

13:03

But I got to take a stand for the ones

13:06

that don't want to speak out

13:08

>> and for myself.

13:12

I've I've had dizzy spells. I've from

13:17

the machines and everything because they

13:20

are

13:21

>> so high and they're up

13:24

to toward the ceiling and they are

13:27

constantly being run on a day-to-day

13:31

basis.

13:32

And with them constantly running the

13:35

heat from them, it drains you.

13:40

So,

13:42

I just I just need

13:45

to speak out about all the hazards and

13:49

everything that goes on at Consolidated

13:52

CFish.

13:55

>> Thank you so much for sharing your

13:58

testimony um and for being so brave. I

14:01

know that you personally along have been

14:03

very vocal to say that you speak for on

14:06

behalf of your co-workers um but have

14:08

also been a victim of the un you know

14:12

unsafe conditions at consolidated

14:14

catfish. So thank you for your bravery

14:16

and for joining us today. Uh we're going

14:18

to keep moving because we do have

14:20

several speakers lined up today. And

14:22

next we will hear from Thank you again

14:24

to the consolidated catfish worker. Uh

14:27

but now we're gonna hear from Gustavo

14:29

Reyes Gonzalez.

14:31

Uh Gustavo is a former stone cutter who

14:34

worked with engineered stone products

14:37

including Cambria materials and is now

14:40

living with solicosis at only 34 years

14:42

old. He joins us to speak about the

14:44

devastating toll of silica exposure and

14:48

why no worker should lose their breath

14:50

just for doing their job.

15:03

Gustavo.

15:13

for

15:28

the consult.

15:35

[clears throat]

15:57

San Francisco.

16:08

Um,

16:25

hospital.

16:48

Um,

17:02

No Albertas.

17:33

much.

17:43

Gracias, Gustavo.

17:55

Valente.

18:06

Um,

18:51

Gracias.

19:08

We have We're going to welcome a partner

19:10

representative connected to Dr. Horton

19:12

workers. His name is Patricio Kambias

19:14

and he leads the constru uh construction

19:17

organizer for Sul uh and will speak

19:21

about safety, dignity and what happens

19:22

when powerful employers fail to protect

19:25

workers during moments of fear and

19:27

immigration enforcement.

19:30

Uh Patricia,

19:32

>> yes. Uh thank you Jessica. Um hi, my

19:34

name is Patricio Campas. I'm the lead

19:36

construction organizer for the building

19:38

dignity and respect campaign here at

19:40

Setul, a worker center based out of

19:42

Minneapolis, Minnesota. Uh our focus is

19:44

to organize low-wage non-UN immigrant

19:46

workers in the construction industry who

19:48

are vulnerable to systemic issues of

19:50

wage theft and other rights violations.

19:52

And over the last few years, we've

19:54

mostly focused on multif family housing

19:56

sites like large apartment complexes and

19:58

senior housing, for example. But during

20:01

Operation Metro Surge, uh these last few

20:04

months, we were met with the immediate

20:06

crisis of thousands of federal agents

20:08

descending upon workplaces all over the

20:09

Twin Cities metro area. We received

20:12

multiple reports of immigration agents

20:13

harassing workers on single family

20:16

housing sites, including several

20:18

instances of roofers on Dr. Horton sites

20:20

being trapped on roofs in sub-zero

20:22

degree Minnesota winter temperatures

20:24

while agents waited to detain them on

20:26

the ground with or without a legal valid

20:29

warrant. In one of these instances, two

20:31

workers had to be hospitalized for

20:32

hypothermia symptoms. So we quickly

20:34

mobilized to these sites. We heard from

20:36

workers on these Dorton sites that

20:38

really it was these type of sites, these

20:39

sites specifically were the ones most

20:41

vulnerable to the illegal warrantless

20:43

raids on sites and that this reality

20:45

comported with the general lack of

20:46

safety oversight and low pay that

20:48

workers told us also accompany these

20:50

sites. One of these workers we met, his

20:52

name is Kevin, a non-union HVAC worker.

20:55

And Kevin described to us how federal

20:56

immigration agents would arrive in the

20:58

middle of the workday in groups and

21:00

attempt to question any and all workers

21:02

they could get their hands on. Framers

21:04

citers regardless of their actual

21:06

immigration status. Now this illegal

21:08

warrantless harassment and detention of

21:10

workers caused a panic among the crews

21:12

Kevin worked with. Out of his group of

21:14

12, all but one stopped coming to work,

21:17

including workers who have legal status

21:19

who are afraid of being racially

21:20

profiled. And so what happens when 80%

21:23

of crews stop showing up to work?

21:25

Critical delays occur, meaning roofers

21:27

who stop showing up, can't finish the

21:30

roofs, these houses remain exposed to

21:32

the elements as electricians are forced

21:34

to move ahead with installing wiring.

21:36

Moisture seeping into the unfinished

21:38

house means workers like Kevin have to

21:40

install insulation and HVAC and risk

21:43

being shocked by exposed wires. Kevin

21:46

made sure to tell us that this type of

21:48

safety violation could result in death

21:50

if it's serious enough. And uh this is

21:53

all happening in the middle of Minnesota

21:54

winter like like I talked about. Kevin

21:56

says that delays also mean since these

21:59

are unfinished, uninsulated houses,

22:02

they're unheated. So spending 8 hours or

22:04

more outside in frigid temperatures,

22:06

where are the heaters that Dr. Horton

22:08

should be providing? Well, he tolds us

22:10

that he tells us they're on site, but

22:11

they're not being used because he feels

22:14

discouraged from asking to use them

22:15

because it seems that management is more

22:17

concerned about workers accidentally

22:19

breaking the heaters than as opposed to

22:21

them using them to, you know, not have

22:23

to work and freezing temperatures. So,

22:25

all of this adds up to an employer that

22:27

does not value health and safety

22:28

clearly. So, when I asked Kevin what he

22:30

wanted to tell the world about working

22:32

on Dr. Horton, he said more than

22:34

anything, the way Dr. Horton was

22:36

absolutely silent and absent when

22:38

thousands of federal agents were raiding

22:39

work sites left and right showed him how

22:41

little he and his co-workers mattered to

22:43

this developer. His message, quote, "You

22:46

are hurting human beings. The trauma

22:48

caused to working families is completely

22:49

devastating, and choosing to do nothing

22:51

is choosing to stand on the side of the

22:53

oppressor." End quote. So, this is all

22:55

why in 2026, Dear Horton absolutely

22:58

belongs in the dirty dozen. Thank you.

23:03

Thank you, Patricio, for coming to share

23:05

uh a little bit of what's happening with

23:07

several of the workers there. Dr.

23:09

Horton, appreciate your time. Um, next,

23:12

uh, we're going to hear from another

23:14

anonymous worker connected to the

23:17

Hyundai Motor Group, uh, Metaplant

23:21

America project. They are speaking about

23:24

the dangerous conditions hidden layers

23:27

of responsibility and the realities

23:29

worker face on major industrial

23:32

projects. Um so if we could uh have our

23:36

next speaker

23:49

Motor Group,

23:52

Georgia.

24:07

Fore

24:09

speech.

24:19

operation.

24:41

Let's

25:40

LG energy solution.

25:46

Fore

25:58

condition.

26:54

capacit.

27:32

Gracias.

27:57

Um, now we're gonna welcome Kissy Cox uh

28:01

from the Hy Hyundai Motor Manufacturing

28:04

Company based in Montgomery, Alabama.

28:07

And Kissy has shown tremendous courage

28:10

in speaking about injury, worker

28:13

treatment, and the gap between corporate

28:14

promises and workplace reality. So,

28:17

welcome Kissy and thank you for joining

28:18

us. Can you um unmute yourself and put

28:21

yourself on camera if possible?

28:27

We see you. We can't hear you. You

28:29

>> Okay. Can you hear me now?

28:31

>> Yes, we can. Ma'am, go for it.

28:33

>> Okay. My name is Kissy Cox. I work for

28:35

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing here in

28:38

Montgomery, Alabama. This year will make

28:41

my fourth year that I've been employed

28:43

with them. Um in de in 2023 I had carpal

28:49

tunnel surgery. So when I returned to

28:52

the line I started questioning my

28:54

schedule and how my jobs was being

28:57

rotated. I had the same job for four for

29:02

a month and a half

29:05

for speaking up. I was met with

29:07

retaliation

29:09

to have those same four jobs out of 10

29:12

jobs. I had to do those same four jobs

29:14

for a month and a half before they even

29:17

changed it. One of the particular jobs,

29:22

it was tall, so I would have to get on

29:25

my tippy toes, hold the side of the

29:27

truck to keep my balance cuz it was

29:30

awkward and unstable. And then I had

29:33

would have to use my right predominant

29:35

hand to make the proper connections.

29:39

I then began to feel shoulder pain and I

29:42

reported it March the 18th of 2025.

29:48

I wasn't

29:50

seen at a actual for actual MRI until

29:54

August of that same year.

29:59

I'm sorry.

30:03

After the um doctor's appointment, I was

30:06

put on modified duty.

30:09

While on modified duty, my restrictions

30:12

ended because I asked to panel out to

30:15

another doctor. When my restrictions

30:18

ended, I had to go back to the line.

30:22

When I questioned my safety about how am

30:25

I pending surgery and I'm waiting on my

30:28

panel to be approved for workers comp.

30:32

How is it that I'm sent back to the line

30:35

with no restrictions

30:39

and nothing was ever did or said I had

30:43

to was actually placed back on the line

30:46

without any work restrictions.

30:50

I'm sorry.

30:56

Um,

30:58

I just want to say my experience with

31:00

Hyundai

31:02

is I'm sorry.

31:05

I'm sorry I lost track of thought, but

31:08

my whole experience with Hyundai is that

31:12

if you speak out about your injuries,

31:14

you're more than likely going to be

31:16

retaliated against. When you speak on a

31:19

reported injury, it shouldn't take

31:21

months and months for your case to be

31:23

evaluated and see what's going on. Once

31:26

my injuries were evaluated, I just want

31:29

to tell y'all what I was working with

31:32

full duty

31:34

with no restrictions.

31:41

My diagnosis include rupture of the

31:44

right rotator cuff, instability in both

31:48

shoulder joints, rotator cuff strains in

31:51

both shoulders, a glenoid labor tear, a

31:54

full thickness rotator cuff tear, bicep

31:57

tendinitis, osteoarthritis of the

32:00

shoulder, and impingement syndrome.

32:04

And with all that, I was still made to

32:07

work on the line. I think my injuries

32:10

would have been pre have been prevented

32:13

if when I first reported it in March, if

32:16

my injury concern was taken seriously,

32:19

but instead it was not. Reporting

32:21

injuries are often led with they're

32:25

often mental mentalized

32:29

or even met with doubt that you're lying

32:32

and that you don't need medical care.

32:35

But a medical doctor should be able to

32:38

clear that up with no problem. So it

32:41

shouldn't be a problem to send your

32:42

workers to medical care.

32:45

When I go to my physical therapy

32:46

treatments, I see the majority of

32:48

workers there are Hyundai and Hyundai

32:50

suppliers. So, it doesn't just start

32:53

with me and it doesn't end with me.

32:55

People are scared to speak up. I mean,

32:58

this is my retaliation for speaking up.

33:01

I did my left shoulder in December and I

33:03

just had to have my right shoulder done

33:05

this month. So, that's only a couple of

33:07

months away because my shoulders was

33:09

just that bad. It's not just me. When I

33:13

go to report an injury, I should be met

33:15

with protection and not retaliation

33:19

ever.

33:20

>> Thank you, Kissy, so much. And yes, 100%

33:24

not met with retaliation. Imagine the

33:26

real health impacts that workers have to

33:28

endure only to be met with uh

33:31

retaliation when they speak up. So,

33:33

thank you, Kissy, for again for your

33:35

bravery, for joining us. Um and again we

33:38

wish you the best in sort of your

33:40

recovery journey, but we understand the

33:42

hurt that also lives with uh being, you

33:45

know, attempted retaliated for for for

33:48

speaking up. So, um we're going to move

33:50

on now to our next uh and last worker

33:53

testimony. Uh uh I also want to note

33:56

that we have a lot of representatives

33:58

from the Dirty Dozen. Because of time,

34:01

we could not include a speaker for every

34:03

company, but we will have

34:04

representatives towards the end of the

34:06

call. uh in case folks are would like to

34:09

hear from other speakers, other other

34:11

workers um from the other dirty dozen

34:13

companies. But next, we're going to hear

34:15

from anonymous worker from Makers Pride,

34:18

formerly Herdside. They will speak to

34:20

the production pressures, uh dignity on

34:24

the line, and what happens when workers

34:26

are treated as disposable. So, do we

34:29

have the worker from Makers Pride on the

34:31

call?

34:41

Makers Pride.

34:52

foros.

35:50

C.

36:40

Ja. Um,

36:51

treat.chech.

37:16

for

37:46

ache.

37:50

production.

38:05

Hello

38:12

for

38:41

fabric.

38:51

for

39:22

Gracias. Gracias.

39:46

physical

40:03

problem.

40:16

Sposencio.

40:43

So much to

40:46

and that really uh you know again I just

40:49

was sharing a thank you to all our

40:51

speakers who spoke uh all our the

40:53

workers who spoke today uh you know

40:55

their their truth matters uh they have

40:58

shown tremendous courage and leadership

41:01

And we wanted to again just thank the

41:04

the the journalists that are here today

41:06

for treating uh worker safety as an

41:09

urgent issue that it is and for

41:11

listening uh to this reality of so many

41:14

workers. Um the dirty dozen is not just

41:17

a list. It's truly a call to action. Uh

41:20

we are asking and and and need change

41:24

with stronger enforcement. We need laws

41:27

that protect us. We need a federal heat

41:29

standard. We need accountability across

41:32

supply chains and we need protections

41:35

from retaliation

41:37

and we need to center worker voices

41:40

which is what really the goal of this

41:41

call was as well is beyond the list of

41:44

the 12 is that you hear from workers

41:46

directly. So because really the reality

41:49

is that no worker needs to risk their

41:51

life to earn a paycheck. And I just want

41:54

to say thank you to everyone for being

41:56

here. Uh, I'm going to toss it over to

41:58

uh my colleague Toi Garcia who's going

42:01

to lead us uh I believe in the Q&A. Doi,

42:05

handing it off to you.

42:06

>> Thank you, Jessica. And a special thank

42:08

you for all of the speakers for your

42:11

powerful testimony today. Uh, now we

42:14

transi we will transition to the Q&A

42:17

portion of the program. And uh, just a

42:20

reminder Q&A portion is intended for

42:23

journalists on the call. If you are a

42:25

journalist and you have a question,

42:27

please raise your hand or even better

42:29

you can drop your question in the chat.

42:32

That will uh help us to find the the the

42:35

questions and I will call you on uh and

42:39

uh feel free to direct your question to

42:42

any of the specific panelist or uh

42:45

simply you you can ask the question to

42:47

the group. So the floor is open. Any

42:49

questions?

42:52

>> Yes, I have a question.

42:54

Qu your name, please.

42:56

>> I'm Mark Ruenberg from Press Associates.

42:58

How are you? Yeah,

43:00

>> I'm Mark Ruenberg from Press Associates

43:02

Union News Service. I have a question

43:05

for our last speaker, the one from um

43:08

from uh can't pronounce the hearth side.

43:12

I was look in and doing the and doing my

43:15

sort of backup research.

43:18

Uh the report mentioned that there that

43:20

one thing that happened was that there

43:23

was a union election at her site at that

43:26

plant last year and the union lost. The

43:29

union is the bakery workers. Um my

43:32

question to you is

43:35

what happened? I know what happened

43:37

before the election. They they lost

43:40

because of all the the worker u the

43:43

violations by the company of worker

43:45

rights. Has there been retaliation? Has

43:48

there been other company reaction since

43:50

that loss in September?

43:55

>> Are you able to hear the question?

44:14

No, no, I mean

44:28

No

44:35

circumstances.

45:28

WhatsApp the companion

45:30

The hairite

45:57

resp

46:09

We have a question in the chat.

46:32

Okay.

46:35

Eva,

46:37

>> yes.

46:38

>> I have Steve Winshaw from work bites.

46:41

He has a question. How has the Trump

46:43

administration affected safety and

46:46

enforcement?

46:51

>> Wonderful. Well, thank you for that

46:52

question. I can take it. and and we do

46:54

know that we have multiple sources uh

46:56

that report that OSHA does conduct fewer

46:58

inspections and I think it's up to like

47:00

20% fewer uh reported from 2025. We are

47:05

also seeing like lower penalties for

47:07

employers.

47:08

uh beyond that is that we've seen an

47:11

extreme roll back in uh attempted roll

47:14

backs in specific standards including

47:16

the general duty clause and for those

47:18

that are not as familiar with like OSHA

47:21

which is the occupational safety and

47:22

health administration that has

47:24

jurisdiction to ensure that all workers

47:26

have safe uh and healthy workplaces

47:30

uh serving as [snorts] an enforcement uh

47:32

agency. um that uh the general duty

47:36

class is the most general uh law that

47:38

that says that every every worker is

47:42

should be kept safe from a known hazard

47:45

that can corre

47:47

um you know a serious illness. Uh so so

47:51

it's important to note that even roll

47:53

backs of something so general as that

47:54

have been attempted under this current

47:56

administration.

47:58

Um and we've also seen uh a drop

48:03

lawmakers also cited I think a 42% drop

48:06

in willful violations and there's also

48:09

been uh you know proposed budget cuts

48:12

across the board. uh instead of seeing a

48:15

more robust, more comprehensive agency

48:18

that has more inspectors, we shared that

48:21

there's only 1,800 inspectors across the

48:24

country uh with 160 million workers uh

48:28

across 8 million work places. We don't

48:31

have enough inspectors. those budget

48:32

cuts are like, you know, really

48:34

preventing from work for any

48:36

enforcement, let alone inspectors going

48:39

into these sites un unannounced um to

48:42

really be able to take a view at what's

48:44

happening at these at these work sites.

48:45

So, um it's it's not ideal under this

48:49

current administration and we don't we

48:51

don't really have uh clarity in terms of

48:53

plan of the likelihood of what a heat

48:56

standard for instance or any other of

48:58

that case how it's moving forward.

49:01

That was actually was going to be my

49:03

next question is what's going on with

49:04

the heat standard.

49:07

>> Uh and we know that I mean uh national

49:09

caution along with several partners have

49:11

been at the forefront um of really

49:14

pushing for a national heat standard. Uh

49:17

we're I think there's a as as we know

49:21

just a couple weeks ago there was a

49:24

revisit of the national emphasis program

49:26

for the heat standard of pardon in for

49:28

uh in place of a heat standard. So we

49:31

don't see any movement. Uh we have an

49:33

active network that has called for a

49:36

robust heat standard for both uh indoor

49:39

and outdoor workers. uh but we're not

49:42

seeing any real action um or uh have any

49:45

any sort of light or information on

49:47

whether this is moving forward in a real

49:49

way um under this administration.

49:55

>> Thank you for the questions. Um any

49:57

other question from

49:59

>> we have a second question from Hank Kang

50:03

reporter from Korea Davyy in LA. What

50:06

are the key actions that your coalition

50:08

and the workers want Hyundai to take

50:10

moving forward?

50:18

>> Can we open that question to one of the

50:21

organizers from

50:24

>> JMA?

50:28

>> Thank you for the question. Uh, Hanko,

50:30

my name is Luc, a coalition manager for

50:33

Jobs to Move America. We currently have

50:35

a coalition in Alabama uh called uh Good

50:38

Neighbors Alabama and we are hosting a

50:40

campaign that we're calling recall and

50:42

justice at Hyundai Kia. Um in order to

50:45

uh improve the conditions throughout the

50:48

entire Hyundai Kia supply chain, we're

50:50

asking Hyundai Kia to make an ambitious

50:52

and forcible commitment to their workers

50:54

through a negotiation of a comprehensive

50:57

community benefits agreement, a CBA. uh

50:59

it's a public private contract between

51:02

group community groups and employers to

51:04

kind of achieve new standards and and

51:07

equity measures. Um this would be

51:08

enforced through binding arbitration and

51:11

negotiated um through different in the

51:13

same way that other agreements have been

51:15

negotiated in the past. We have had more

51:17

than 41 organizations sign on to a

51:19

letter that we delivered in November to

51:21

the president of Hyundai Kia and to

51:23

other leaders um at the LA Auto Show. So

51:27

we are actively looking forward to enter

51:30

into a partnership with the Hyundai Kia

51:31

supply chain to address these very

51:33

issues that we've um heard from today.

51:36

>> Thank you.

51:40

>> Any other question? And it will be the

51:42

last question if there's any.

51:48

>> If nobody else has one, I would let

51:49

somebody else go before me if they have

51:51

one.

51:52

>> Yeah. Just to follow up to my previous

51:54

question for Jessica. Um, can you be

51:58

more a little more specific about what

52:00

you've been hearing about OSHA's budget,

52:03

whether the number that you said the

52:06

inspections are going to be cut by 20%.

52:08

How about how about the budget itself?

52:11

Uh, there's a $230 million budget cut,

52:14

but that's for all the enforcement

52:15

agencies. How much how much is OSHA

52:18

going to be cut and what do you expect

52:20

the impact to be?

52:22

>> Um well my understanding is that uh

52:25

there's a requested a cutting of OSHA

52:28

and just for specifics uh of 632 million

52:32

to 582.

52:34

That's about a 50 million reduction. Uh

52:37

and it's also proposing 223 staff

52:41

positions be cut uh for for entering

52:44

like fiscal year 2026 proposal. And we

52:48

can send you more numbers. That's what I

52:49

have at this moment. But this is a

52:51

continuous fight and struggle uh for the

52:55

network for many years. We have been

52:57

pushing for more resources be funneled

53:00

into inspections and enforcement. not

53:03

voluntary programs, not guidance, not

53:06

recommendations,

53:08

but actual real enforcement with robust

53:11

penalties where employers really can

53:13

feel uh that, you know, the the

53:15

seriousness of many of these violations,

53:19

>> which brings up my followup. Are they

53:21

going towards this voluntary program

53:24

where there would be no inspections at

53:26

all? The type of thing we saw under

53:28

George W. Bush and under Reagan,

53:32

they went on.

53:34

>> What we do know is that for in

53:35

particular for the heat standard there,

53:38

I I believe there was it was extended

53:40

the national emphasis program and that

53:43

just leads to a couple of more targeted

53:46

uh inspections

53:48

uh particularly in high hazard

53:49

industries. I couldn't tell you because

53:51

it just was released what that impact

53:54

has been. Uh but what what you know what

53:57

I what our network has been pushing for

53:59

is for full wide standard that really

54:03

creates some clarity not just using the

54:05

general duty class which I referenced

54:07

earlier but having a standard that

54:09

specifies specifics for that protect

54:11

workers beyond you know and some of

54:14

these are very basic uh basic human

54:16

rights we're talking about water shade

54:18

and rest accization we're talking about

54:21

very specific protections for both

54:23

indoor and outdoor workers And I like to

54:25

really emphasize that uh because there

54:28

have been past arguments about you know

54:29

something for outdoor workers

54:31

exclusively uh but we are making you

54:34

know this this is we are advocating for

54:36

both an indoor and um for both indoor

54:38

and outdoor workers.

54:40

>> Thank you.

54:41

>> Thank you. And we are now going to wrap

54:44

up the Q&A question uh session and um we

54:48

encourage you to share the link to the

54:51

report uh with your network. Uh the link

54:54

is already in the chat for easy access

54:58

and for any follow-up questions please

55:00

um uh don't hesitate to reach out and uh

55:04

especially thanks to you to to our

55:06

audience partners worker leaders

55:10

organizers the co network the national

55:13

cohes staff thank you for continued

55:15

support and your hard work to make

55:18

workplaces

55:20

safe for everyone. So, and before we

55:23

close, don't forget to follow us in uh

55:25

social media, all the platforms uh at

55:28

National Kosh. And for more updates and

55:31

information, you can uh we can stay in

55:34

touch there. And uh thank you again

55:36

everyone.

55:45

Thank you everyone. Gracias. And for

55:47

those that are still in the call, if you

55:48

are interested in future programming for

55:51

National Kosh, uh we have a bunch of

55:54

events coming up uh that are listed

55:57

here, but I also invite folks to go into

56:00

our events page and I think uh we're

56:02

able to share that link in the chat as

56:04

well. Uh both in English and Spanish.

56:07

All our events are in English and

56:08

Spanish and programming and education

56:10

for workers and resources. So, thank

56:13

you. Thank you, Susie, for sharing.

56:14

There we go. We have it on in the chat.

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