On a sunny afternoon on May 22, streets in Washington, D.C., saw a robust rally led by a labor union consisting of members from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). They assembled outside the hive of the Department of Health and Human Services. The essence of their protest was to oppose the department’s bold decision to shut down several NIOSH offices dotted across American cities, specifically dedicated to ensuring the safety at workplaces for wildland firefighters, miners, and a sizable chunk of other professions.
Early April saw the Trump administration declaring its intentions to lay off approximately 85% of the NIOSH personnel. This move, slated to take effect in June, was in line with the administration’s strategic downsizing of the expansive federal government. NIOSH, an integral part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, felt the tremors of this decision profoundly.
The protest saw a strong participation not only from the American Federation of Government Employees who flew in from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia but also saw involvement from other unions dedicated to workers in the mining, nursing, and iron and steel sectors. The harmony among them was palpable as they rallied for a united cause.
Brendan Demich, a union steward, passionately addressed the crowd, ‘Our toil has rendered workplaces safer, regions more robust and industries more gainful for posterity, yet the obligation to guard our progress remains.’ He acknowledged the national demand to bolster mining operations while also noting the parallel pressures to downsize those dedicated to ensuring miner safety. He stressed that sidelining safety research for miners and all workers is unacceptable. To him, it was crucial to ensure safety advancements continued, underlining their importance by equating each improvement to lives saved and devastations prevented.
NIOSH operates facilities in various parts of the country, including Spokane. The Spokane station houses the Spokane Mining Research Division, which predominantly studies the safety aspects of hard-rock mines, and the Western States Division that delves into the security and safety practices in industries as varied as oil and gas extraction, commercial fishing, and transportation.
In response to the looming uncertainty of the Spokane office’s fate, Rep. Michael Baumgartner penned an earnest plea to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He urged the department to rescind its planned closure of the Spokane unit, suggesting it was detrimental to hard-working Americans.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services encapsulated its stance in a succinct statement saying, ‘The Trump Administration remains on the side of coal miners and firefighters, and the indispensable services provided by NIOSH will be carried forward. The preservation of our workforce’s health and safety is at the top of our priorities.’
Still, union members remained skeptically defiant, arguing that NIOSH can’t realistically achieve its mission if the majority of its workforce was significantly reduced. The large-scale terminations threatened to undermine the institute’s foundational objectives.
Cecil Roberts, the charismatic leader of the United Mine Workers of America, emboldened the rally with an electrifying speech. He reinforced the essential nature of the NIOSH researchers’ efforts, reminding them of the invaluable role they’ve played throughout NIOSH’s existence.
Roberts eloquently stated, ‘It is your tireless work and research that has invariably shielded and saved the lives of countless coal miners since the inception of NIOSH.’ His words rang out, a poignant reminder of the critical role of safety management in the industry.
The looming operational changes posed by widespread staff reductions have heightened concerns among employees, unions, and industry stakeholders. The potential impacts such changes could have on industry safety is a driving concern that fuels their shared protest.
The rally encapsulated their collective efforts to resist changes that could compromise workers’ safety standards across various industries. Their unified front underscored the urgent necessity to protect the institutes that tirelessly ensure the security and wellbeing of American workers.
As the events of the day encapsulated the collective spirit of the workforce, it remains to be seen how the Department of Health and Human Services will respond in light of the powerful protest. The future of workplace safety lies in the balance, weighted by the impending decisions made by those at the helm.