GOVERNOR HERBERT ANNOUNCES EDUCATION INITIATIVE

December 10, 2009

At the conclusion of the day-long Governor’s Education Summit at the Salt Lake Community College in Taylorsville, Governor Gary Herbert announced to the capacity crowd of educators, education administrators and legislators that his is creating an Education Task Force in January 2010. The Task Force, he said, “will be nimble coalition of stakeholders who will meet monthly throughout 2010 to develop a pathway to education excellence.” He emphasized that, “I will chair this group myself and will attend every meeting of this select group of 25-30 education stakeholders to ensure we develop and product that can be presented to the 2011 Legislature for implementation.

Among the stakeholders Governor Herbert identified will be representatives from public education, higher education, UCAT and the business community. He said he wants the coalition to focus on areas of agreement and work to develop a pathway that will lead Utah to greater heights in education. He noted that when the coalition meets, the group will be asked to check their biases at the door and come prepared to tackle the difficult education issues facing Utah.

CARD CHECK WAITING ON HEALTHCARE

December 10, 2009—NAM Labor Policy Update

“We’re committed to getting health care done... and then we’ll get to the Employee Free Choice Act in the wake of that. I feel very confident that in the wake of health care, you’ll see that we’ll get the Employee Free Choice Act done.”
-AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Politico 11/16/09

EFCA State of Play

· Given the Senate’s priority is health care reform legislation, which is likely to fill the 2009 calendar, the head of one of the largest labor groups, the SEIU indicated at a recent event that he sees action on card check legislation as being a pivotal issue next year. Recently Richard Trumka, another labor leader, expressed a similar observation and renewed their commitment to pass the EFCA after the healthcare debate while stating that the bill’s card provision is front and center at the moment.

WORKPLACE SAFETY

December 10, 2009 – NAM Labor Policy Update

On the evening of December 3, the Senate confirmed the nomination of David Michaels to be Asst. Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Michaels was approved by a voice vote as a part of a package of nominees without a hearing or any Senate debate.

The NAM had strongly urged the Senate to hold a hearing on the nomination of the individual selected to lead this major sub-cabinet agency. We hope to work with Assistant Secretary Michaels and will encourage him to work with employers to address our shared goals of improving the safety of manufacturing workplaces. z

ADA RULEMAKING

December 10, 2009 – NAM Labor Policy Update

The NAM is pleased to have worked with others in the employer community and disability groups to craft a compromise bill to restore the original intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The resulting ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) is now in the process of being implemented with proposed rulemaking at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC.)

Unfortunately, we are concerned that the scope and approach of the EEOC’s proposed rulemaking does not reflect the goals or intent of this important legislation. As a result, we have worked with NAM members to submit comments and recommendations on how the proposed regulations should be improved. To view these comments, please click here.

PAID LEAVE PROPOSALS

December 10, 2009 – NAM Labor Policy Update

Congress continues to consider legislation to mandate the type of paid leave benefits employers provide to their employees. In light of the H1N1 outbreak both the House and Senate have held hearings to understand the current availability of paid leave and have urged support for the Healthy Families Act and related proposals that would require employers to provide employees with certain levels of paid leave. NAM member Bruce Clarke testified before the House Committee on Education and Labor to urge Congress to protect existing paid leave programs. To view his testimony, please click here.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, currently 96% of manufacturers in the U.S. provide employees leave that can be used to address sickness needs. As legislative paid leave mandates are considered, the NAM is working with Congress to ensure that manufacturers continue to have the flexibility to provide the types of benefits that best fit the needs of their employees.