NWRA Congratulates Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Selection to be Next Labor Secretary
Looks Forward to Collaborating with Department on Safety and Workforce Initiatives
Arlington, VA – The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) sent a letter to Boston Mayor Marty Walsh congratulating him on his selection by President-elect Joe Biden to be the next U.S. Secretary of Labor. Walsh has earned a reputation as a consensus builder during his tenure leading the city, finding common ground between labor and employers. He has also placed a significant emphasis upon worker safety.
“NWRA appreciates Mayor Walsh’s reputation as a consensus builder. His commitment to finding common ground is precisely what is needed in our country today,” said NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith. “We agree that it is vital for strong relations between labor and employers for the good of everyone, especially when it comes to worker safety.”
Smith noted in his letter that the waste and recycling industry has been fifth on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) 10 deadliest professions list for several years with many of these fatalities resulting from collection workers being struck by members of the general public who are driving while distracted. NWRA has been at the forefront of advocating state legislation to expand “Move Over” laws to include the waste and recycling industry, which it now is in 31 states. Last month, BLS announced its 2019 data and the industry dropped from the fifth to the sixth deadliest profession due to a significant decrease in the fatality rate. NWRA is committed to reducing industry fatalities further with the goal of getting off the list entirely.
Smith informed Walsh that NWRA recently announced its industry-renowned weekly e-newsletter, Safety Monday, will be available for free moving forward to anyone who requests it in order to make the entire industry safer. This includes both NWRA members and non-members regardless of whether they are in the industry’s private or public sectors. Safety Monday is often used by safety professionals and supervisors during their meetings to provide important reminders to their employees. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Safety Monday e-newsletter has provided resources to reduce the spread of the illness as well as usual reminders about safe driving, collection practices and staying healthy.
NWRA looks forward to working with the U.S. Department of Labor under Walsh’s leadership to deliver more opportunities for people of color and women as the industry faces workforce shortages, including working with the Women’s Bureau of the Department of Labor to increase the role of women in waste and recycling.
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ABOUT NWRA
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) represents the private sector waste and recycling services industry. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that manage waste, recycling and medical waste, equipment manufacturers and distributors, and a variety of other service providers. For more information about NWRA, please visit www.wasterecycling.org.
Contact
Brandon Wright
National Waste and Recycling Association
bwright@wasterecycling.org
202-364-3706
