MSHA head accused of illegal undermining of mine safety rules; Farm Bill provision could create a huge safety loophole for chemical facilities; hourly workers face hard choices in hurricane evacuations; and labor unions see big bump in millennial membership.
Affordable Care Act
Thanks, ACA: Medicaid expansion increased women’s health coverage, reduced uninsured hospitalizations
Another day, another study on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act, just one of the many public health gains on the table this November.
Teachers continue their fight for living wages and fair working conditions; new study sheds light on the working environments of miners with black lung disease; more than 200 delivery drivers sue Amazon for unpaid wages; and McDonald’s workers vote to strike next week over sexual harassment.
The Trump administration is pulling back worker safety efforts at nuclear weapons facilities; employers indicted in 2015 railcar explosion in Nebraska that killed two workers; a federal judge rebukes Trump’s efforts to make it easier to fire federal workers; and Bernie Sanders calls on Amazon warehouse workers to share their stories of low pay and harmful working conditions.
If all countries met World Health Organization standards for fine particulate air pollution, life expectancy gains could be similar in scale to eradicating breast and lung cancer.
Hurricane Harvey recovery workers report rampant wage theft; appeals court rules the Trump administration must stop delaying a chemical plant safety rule; New York City approves new measures to address ride-sharing wages; and San Antonio becomes the second Texas city to pass a sick leave ordinance.
Affordable Care Act
More people have access to addiction care, diabetes treatment and insurance coverage. Thanks, ACA.
Another day, another study on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. Actually, this time, it’s three more studies.
Toxic Substances
Boston health department launches new campaign to protect workers from harmful chemicals
Earlier this summer, Boston residents began cashing in new coupons at local auto shops and beauty salons that go the extra mile to reduce dangerous chemical exposures in the workplace.
Firefighters struggle with considerable mental health tolls, face high suicide rates; Vermont dairy farm workers report improvements after Milk With Dignity agreement; unions win big wage boost for Disneyland Resort workers; and Vox offers a new tool to search which employers require mandatory arbitration.
Affordable Care Act
ACA Medicaid expansion tied to higher employment rates for Americans with disabilities
Another day and yet another study on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act and what we risk losing if Trump and the Republicans get their way. This time it’s a study on the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, which researchers say is actually working as an employment incentive for people with disabilities.