November 7, 2005
TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Dear Representative:
On behalf of the members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), I am writing to urge your support of H.R. 4190, “The Safe at Work Act,” introduced by Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT) and George Miller (CA). “The Safe at Work Act” would ensure appropriate child labor enforcement by preventing the Department of Labor (DOL) from giving advance notification to corporations prior to workplace investigations. DOL’s abdication of their authority in this matter requires congressional action. H.R. 4190 is the solution.
Earlier this year, the DOL entered into a deal with Wal Mart after the company was found breaking child labor laws in three states. In the settlement, Wal Mart was fined a measly $135,540 (which amounts to only 15 seconds of sales for Wal Mart) to settle charges of 24 child labor violations that included 85 minors who performed prohibited activities. Even more egregious than the fine, the DOL’s deal allows Wal Mart to receive a 15 day advance notice on any future child labor investigations and an additional ten days to come into compliance. Advance notice gives Wal Mart ample time to disguise any child labor violations before any investigation would be launched.
Clearly, giving any company time to cover up labor law violations runs counter to the responsibility of the DOL to enforce federal child labor laws. Just last week, DOL’s Inspector General released a report that found “serious breakdowns” in the department’s “negotiating, developing and approving” of such agreements and said the arrangement was “significantly different from other agreements.” The report concluded, “Specifically the Wal Mart agreement had the most far-reaching restrictions on [the division’s] authority to conduct investigations and assess [civil money penalties].”
As a result of the Inspector General’s report, Representatives DeLauro and Miller introduced “The Safe at Work Act” to stop DOL’s advance notice policy. As a strong supporter of child labor laws, UFCW strongly supports this crucial legislation. Labor law violators should be held accountable for their actions, and should not be permitted to cover up or hide such violations.
We hope that you will cosponsor and support this critical legislation. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or need more information.
Sincerely,
Joseph T. Hansen
International President
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