Corporate Accountability
“To befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day.” — President Theodore Roosevelt
Amidst the pandemic, the U.S. Congress and state legislatures, are introducing legislation to provide blanket liability for corporations in the event their employees are exposed to or contract COVID-19. In many cases, these employers are not supplying adequate personal protective equipment, nor are they providing a safe work environment.
In Missouri, the Governor called a special legislative session to tackle the subject, but was met with opposition and proceeded to pull the bill where it is expected to be re-introduced in January.
Republicans want to block Missourians from suing businesses if they catch COVID-19 | Politics | stltoday.com
Reversing course, Parson asks lawmakers to drop COVID liability bill from special session • Missouri Independent
Even in these difficult times, Missouri workers are routinely put in dangerous if not deadly positions by their employers and the Missouri General Assembly continues to strip away protections and access to courts that provide a safety net for these workers.
As early as the 1920s and 1930s, American industry discovered that radiation, asbestos, silica, benzene, lead, arsenic and other workplace toxins could cause cancer decades after exposed workers retire. Instead of eliminating toxins and warning workers, the chemical, mining and asbestos industry chose to cover-up the dangers, placing profits over people.
Companies such as foreign-owned CertainTeed are supporting this legislation and supported similar legislation that was rejected last year. Learn how CertainTeed exposed an entire St. Louis neighborhood to asbest0s.
Companies such CertainTeed are behind new legislation that would further injure Missouri workers in these industries who suffer from lung cancer, leukemia, and metal poisoning. During the decades asbestos and other toxins were used, the industry hid information about dangers from workers. Now these companies are trying to avoid responsibility for their actions.