No images? Click here OSHA Sends Draft Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 to OMB for ReviewOn Monday, April 26, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it has sent a draft emergency temporary standard (ETS) on the coronavirus pandemic to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) final review. This move signals that OSHA has finished writing the ETS and the standard is in the final stages of review before it is issued. The standard has been noticed but the text is not public and may not be seen until the ETS is officially issued. The OMB review is expected to take two weeks and once it is complete, OSHA will likely issue the rule and it will become effective immediately. That standard can only be challenged in a U.S. court of appeals as opposed to OSHA guidance, which allows for flexibility and lets the administration officials change it as they see fit. GCCA will continue to keep you updated as more information on this ETS is released. HHS Creates Communication Toolkit for Essential Workers in AgricultureAs part of its We Can Do This COVID-19 Public Education Campaign, the Department of Health and Human Services has released a communication toolkit for essential workers in agriculture. The toolkit provides employers access to materials developed in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and partners to help them communicate with essential agriculture workers on the latest COVID-19 prevention and vaccination information. The toolkit has a user guide, posters, flyers, fact sheets, social media messages, and other resources. To view these resources, click HERE. President Biden Signs Executive Order Establishing the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and EmpowermentOn Monday, April 26, 2021, President Biden established a task force aimed at empowering workers to organize and bargain with their employers that will be chaired by Vice President Kamala Harris. The White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment will be vice-chaired by Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and include more than 20 Cabinet members and heads of other federal agencies. The order directs the task force to make a set of recommendations within 180 days on how existing policies, programs and practices can be used to promote worker organizing and collective bargaining in the federal government, and what new policies are needed to achieve the task force's mission. President Biden Unveils the American Families PlanOn Wednesday, April 28, 2021, President Biden unveiled the American Families Plan, a sweeping $1.8 trillion plan to expand educational opportunities and childcare for families, funded in part by tax increases focused on the wealthy. The plan would make pre-kindergarten and community college free across the country, extend the child tax credit through 2025 and make permanent an expansion of the earned income tax credit to childless adults with low incomes, provide direct support to families for childcare, finance teacher training and create a national paid family leave program. Learn more HERE. GCCA continues to work with coalition partners to address a variety of tax policies, including a recent coalition letter supporting the Death Tax Repeal Act. GCCA also has an active grassroots campaign opposing tax increases proposed under the American Jobs Plan. Please consider TAKING ACTION by participating in the campaign and contacting your elected officials. Read the full American Families Plan HERE.
Call to Action: Nominate a Cold Chain Champion Do you have a colleague who you believe performs exceptional work and deserves special recognition? We are highlighting our members and their achievements on social media. Nominate yourself, your company, or your colleague for a chance to be spotlighted as a #ColdChainChampion! Submit nominations, a short explanation, and a photo to Rachael Oury at roury@gcca.org. GCCA Launches Advocacy CenterGCCA has launched a new Advocacy Center as part of the association’s expanded advocacy efforts. This new platform will enable GCCA members to engage with their elected officials to promote and protect the industry. All GCCA members are encouraged to SUBSCRIBE to the new Advocacy Center program to receive the latest on policy developments and grassroots campaigns. Advocacy Fund Established to Support Enhanced ServicesGCCA has established a new strategic initiative, the Advocacy Fund, to expand our advocacy efforts on behalf of our industry. This Advocacy Fund will support our increased efforts to promote and protect the cold chain. Members are urged to consider making financial contributions to support these expanded advocacy efforts. To learn more about the Fund or about how you can contribute click here or please contact Lowell Randel. |