The recent decision to reduce jobs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has sparked concern among various groups, including the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, which argues for the critical role the agency plays in safeguarding workplace health and safety.
NIOSH stands as the sole federal entity tasked with researching methods to enhance worker safety and prevent occupational illnesses across the United States.
According to a statement from the UAW, the institute’s research is “absolutely critical in advancing rules that protect workers on the job.”
The job reductions align with a broader restructuring initiated by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who contends that downsizing the workforce will result in taxpayer savings.
University of Michigan’s Rick Neitzel, an academic leader in environmental health sciences and director of the Center for Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, highlights the center’s reliance on NIOSH funding to educate future occupational health professionals.
“This is one of the federal agencies that actually helps us save money by preventing workplace injuries,” Neitzel pointed out. “The notion that we’re saving money by cutting an agency that actually already is saving money for the country, again, I think is completely indefensible.”
Neitzel warned that the cuts would halt advancements in safety research and diminish support for educational programs dedicated to the field.
“Without this agency in place, there’s not going to be anyone pushing for new ways to prevent injuries, new ways to keep workers from getting sick or even being killed on the job,” he stated.
Kelly Barnett, leader of UAW Local 6000, representing Michigan’s Human Services and Administrative Support Units, expressed concerns about the broader economic implications of the layoffs.
“When you have layoffs, it means less economic growth and stability in the areas where we live,” Barnett observed. “There’s always a ripple effect when people lose their jobs.”
The UAW has strongly opposed the job cuts, advocating for the reinstatement of the positions due to anticipated negative outcomes.
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