ANNUAL ALLIANCE REPORT
Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the
Mexican Consulate of Omaha
1/13/2013 – 4/13/2014
- Alliance Background
- To deliver or arrange for the delivery of workers’ rights courses and courses regarding health and safety in food processing, construction, and cleaning services.
- To speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA’s or the Consulate’s conferences, local meetings, or other appropriate events.
- To participate in ‘Mobile Consulate’ activities and events.
- To raise awareness of and demonstrate commitment to workplace safety and health and workers’ rights whenever leaders from the Participants address groups.
- To share information on applicable labor laws and standards, including those relating to workers’ rights and responsibilities of employers.
- Valeria V. Rodriquez Mora, Department of Protection
- Doug Fletcher, Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS)
- Bernard Hauber, Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS)
- Larry O. Davidson, Sr., Area Director
- Glenn W. Morton, Administrator
- Catherine D. Lang, Commissioner of Labor
- Implementation Team Meetings
- NOTE: Due to Federal budget restraints and sequestration and following the August 22, 2012 meeting, no face-to-face meetings were held until June 2013. Most contact during that period was via email.
- 06/26/13 Planning meeting for Labor Rights Week with Consulate staff and CAS. OSHA intends to provide an informational booth at Health Fair.
- 08/26/13 Labor Rights Week (with Consulate staff)
- 08/27/13 Labor Rights Week (with Consulate staff)
- 08/28/13 Labor Rights Week (with Consulate staff)
- Events and Products
- See Outreach and Communication below.
- Labor Rights Week; 8/26 – 8/28/2013 – this is the largest activity of the year for the Alliance. On 8/26/13, an opening ceremony was held at the Consulate, featuring Mr. Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes, Consul, and Mr. Doug Fletcher, Acting Omaha Area Director. Following the ceremony, Mr. Fletcher and an Omaha bi-lingual CSHO provided an overview of OSHA services and fielded questions from the attendees and Consulate patrons. During the week, a variety of labor-related government agencies and local businesses that serve the Latino community were scheduled to visit the Consulate, set up a booth and provide literature and information to Consulate customers. This group included the US DOL – Wage & Hour as well as the Nebraska Department of Labor. The events were publicized by the Consulate on Radio Lobo, NE Public Television, and via the Consulate email.
- The Omaha Area Office and other participant agencies regularly provide materials for distribution at the Consulate, and for use at Mobile Consulate activities held in Nebraska and Iowa.
- The Mexican Consulate has continued to be available for translation assistance to the Omaha Area Office as part of this alliance. Additionally, the Consulate is available to assist the Omaha Area Office whenever correspondence needs to be delivered to recipients in Mexico.
- On March 10, 2014, Rodrigo Grisalva from the Consulate made an inquiry concerning workplace safety at a construction site. Although he did not have much specific information and the Omaha Area Office could not, therefore, take any action, this is an example of the Consulate making inquiries concerning workplace safety and potential Whistleblower violations to the Omaha Area Office. The Area Office has developed an outstanding relationship with the Consulate staff.
- On March 25, 2014, the CAS began work on the Alliance renewal agreement. It is understood that a template has been pre-approved, which should improve the review process. The CAS has contacted the Region 7 alliance coordinator, the Des Moines Area Director and Valeria V. Rodriquez Mora from the Consulate to begin this process.
- Results
- Upcoming Milestones
Date Signed
1/13/2006 – original signed
1/13/2008 – expiration date of original
10/23/2008 – re-signed
4/17/2012 – signed a new agreement with the Des Moines Area Office
Pending Renewal: April, 2014
Overview
The parties intend, through this Arrangement, to establish a collaborative relationship to provide information, guidance and access to training resources in an effort to help Mexican citizens working in Nebraska to protect their working conditions and labor rights, including their health and safety. The agreement also focuses on a number of goals including:
Training and education:
Outreach and communication:
Promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health:
Implementation Team Members
Mexican Consulate of Omaha
OSHA – Omaha Area Office:
OSHA – Des Moines Area Office:
Nebraska Workers Compensation Court
Nebraska Department of Labor
Evaluation Period
01/13/13 – 04/13/14
Training and Education
Events:
Outreach and Communication
Events:
Promoting the National Dialogue on Workplace Safety and Health
Events: Nothing to report
Type of Activity | Number of Individuals Reached or Trained |
US – Mexico National Labor Rights Week |
Opening Ceremony ~ 50 |
Totals | 100 – face to face |
Renewal of this alliance in April 2014 may once again prove to be lengthy. Regardless, the Omaha Area Office will continue to work with the Consulate to find ways to reach and educate Latino workers in Nebraska.
Report Prepared by: Bernard Hauber, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Omaha Area Office
For more information, contact the Office of Outreach Services and Alliances at 202-693-2340 or go to www.osha.gov.
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