http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/show_news.pl?country=USA&langcode=enMany of you might remember last November after the election that I applied here on the DU for US Secretary of Labor. That post was flashed around the country (and the english speaking world) on labor sites thanks to Labour Start. I learned in early January that the Obama team saw my application. I had no education past high school. That was a stumbling block to my career change into US Government on most levels. I did however heal some wounds between my union (AFSCME) and the Obama camp. Long story for telling some day way down the road. I thank the DU and the members that Rec'd or kicked the story. I do have a few friends I've had conversations with now in upper offices including deputy assistant secretary for OSHA and acting assistant secretary Jordan Barab.
On the other hand I don't mind staying a blue collar worker activist. I have many like minded friends here I'd hate to loose contact with.
OS
http://ohsonline.com/articles/2009/04/08/house-labor-staffer-picked-to-lead-osha.aspxHouse Labor Staffer Picked as Acting OSHA Chief
* Apr 08, 2009
Jordan Barab, senior labor policy advisor on health and safety issues for the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, has been tapped by Secretary Solis to be deputy assistant secretary for OSHA and acting assistant secretary, effective Monday, the committee's press secretary, Aaron Albright, confirmed this afternoon.
Barab ran a popular safety blog named Confined Space in recent years, and he's a favorite choice to head OSHA for many within the small community of occupational safety bloggers. The Obama administration so far is allied with organized labor, as seen in the selection of California Congresswoman Hilda Solis as secretary of Labor. and with Education and Labor Chairman Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., as seen in President Obama's signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a bill sponsored by Miller that makes it easier for workers to fill pay discrimination cases even if their claims extend back for years.
Miller issued a statement today saying, "I congratulate Jordan for being named as the acting head of OSHA. Jordan will bring a tremendous amount of valuable health and safety experience to an agency that has been neglected for far too long. Throughout his career, Jordan has demonstrated the specialized knowledge of health and safety issues needed to revamp the agency and strengthen its efforts to protect Americans while on the job. I look forward to working with Jordan and Secretary Solis to ensure that the agency works to protect the health and safety of our nation's workers."
This photo shows Jordan Barab, who has been named the acting head of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.