New Warehouse Worker Safety Act Aims to Protect Workers from Unsafe Conditions

Recent developments in the trucking industry have seen the passing of two bills that have significant implications for trucking businesses. The U.S. Department of Labor's worker classification rule, which aimed to prevent companies from misclassifying workers as independent contractors, has been challenged by a resolution passed through the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Additionally, the Prove It Act, introduced by Rep. Brad Finstad, has passed through the House Judiciary Committee. This act aims to protect small businesses from burdensome regulations and has garnered support from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) [2418b0ca].

The U.S. Department of Labor released a 339-page final rule in January to address the issue of worker misclassification. The rule officially took effect on March 11, but Rep. Kevin Kiley introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution to rescind the current worker classification rule. This resolution has gained traction and has the potential to overturn the Department of Labor's rule [2418b0ca].

The Prove It Act, introduced by Rep. Brad Finstad, has also made progress in Congress. This act aims to protect small businesses from excessive regulations and has garnered support from four co-sponsors. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has expressed its support for the Prove It Act, as it believes that it will benefit trucking businesses [2418b0ca].

In addition to these legislative developments, cargo theft in the U.S. has seen a significant increase in 2023. This poses a major concern for the trucking industry, as it highlights the need for enhanced security measures to protect valuable cargo [2418b0ca].

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has also taken steps to advocate for the rights of truckers. They have updated their grassroots advocacy website, FightingForTruckers.com, to provide a platform for truckers to voice their concerns and engage in advocacy efforts [2418b0ca].

Meanwhile, in Georgia, state lawmakers have endorsed legislation to repeal the state's direct-action statute that covers truck drivers. This move has implications for the legal protections available to truck drivers in the state [2418b0ca].

The Trucking Leasing Task Force has also been active in gathering feedback from truckers. They utilized the Mid-America Trucking Show as an opportunity to hear directly from truckers about predatory lease-purchases. This engagement with truckers aims to address concerns and improve leasing practices in the trucking industry [2418b0ca].

Retail groups are applauding the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act, which aims to increase transparency in ocean shipping capacity and prices. The legislation will now move to the U.S. Senate for further consideration. The bill would ensure fair access to ocean shipping capacity, protect against unreasonable fees and retaliatory measures, increase transparency, bolster the Federal Maritime Commission's oversight responsibilities, and establish a supply chain information data standard. The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the Consumer Brands Association (CBA) both welcomed the progress of the act and encouraged the Senate to follow suit. RILA Director of Supply Chain Policy Sarah Gilmore stated that the act would address long-standing issues in the ocean shipping industry and remove barriers to the movement of goods. CBA Vice President of Campaigns & Special Projects Tom Madrecki emphasized the importance of supply chain competitiveness and maritime shipping links to consumers' quality of life and the growth of the U.S. economy.

The National Direct Shipping Bill of Rights has received support from more than 100 organizations, including 93 producer businesses and twelve producer associations. The bill aims to update the 'Model Direct Shipping Bill' adopted by the National Conference of State Legislatures in 1997 and create a uniform approach to direct shipping-related laws across the nation. The set of principles includes requirements for licensing, compliance with shipping requirements, and proper package labeling. The Craft Wine Association has long advocated for the modernization of regulations to benefit independent operators. President Biden's executive order on promoting competition in the American economy and the U.S. Treasury Department's report on competition in the market for beer, wine, and spirits have set the stage for regulatory reform. The bill's supporters include wineries, distilleries, meaderies, and cideries from across the United States. [0d8f287f]

Two Democratic U.S. senators, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Tina Smith of Minnesota, plan to introduce the Warehouse Worker Protection Act in the Senate. The bill aims to require large companies to disclose quota practices to workers and prevent those quotas from threatening a worker's health. It would mandate companies to notify workers of the quotas they need to meet and ban quotas that rely on 24/7 surveillance or are likely to lead to violations of health and safety laws. Companies that fail to comply would be investigated by the Department of Labor and could face fines and penalties. The bill has bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House, and similar legislation has already been passed in several states, including Minnesota, California, New York, Oregon, and Washington [dc1c7d71].

A new bill called the Warehouse Worker Safety Act has been introduced by Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Tina Smith to protect warehouse workers from unsafe conditions. The bill would ban quotas that violate health and safety laws and require companies to inform employees when there is a quota in place. The Department of Labor would hold companies accountable for non-compliance. Keith Williams, an Amazon warehouse worker, shared his experience of being injured on the job due to unfair quotas. The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors opposes the bill, stating that it would negatively affect productivity and create unnecessary bureaucratic red tape. Amazon is reviewing the legislation but claims to already implement many of its requirements. Since 2019, Amazon has seen improvements in its incident and lost time rates. [c07bf300]