| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 281
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Construction workers and members of the Build a |
|
|
Better Texas Coalition are gathering in Austin on February 27, 2013, |
|
|
to promote workplace safety in the construction industry; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The construction industry plays a significant role |
|
|
in the Texas economy, with 950,000 Texans laboring in construction |
|
|
and generating $1 out of every $20 in the economy; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Workplace safety in Texas is a serious issue; more |
|
|
construction workers die as a result of workplace accidents or |
|
|
conditions in Texas than in any other state; from 2007 to 2011, |
|
|
585 construction workers lost their lives on the job, nearly |
|
|
twice as many as in the next most deadly state; in addition, one |
|
|
in every five construction workers in the state suffers an injury |
|
|
on the job that requires medical attention; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Low wages and legal violations like wage theft and |
|
|
payroll fraud are common, with 41 percent of the workforce |
|
|
misclassified as independent contractors and one out of five |
|
|
workers falling victim to wage theft, further imperiling the |
|
|
economic stability of working families; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Whenever employers in the industry fail to abide |
|
|
by the law, they decrease the ability of responsible businesses |
|
|
to compete, put the physical safety of their workers at risk, and |
|
|
force taxpayers to pick up costs resulting from their illegal |
|
|
practices; the Build a Better Texas Coalition is a group of |
|
|
businesses, community organizations, faith-based groups, and |
|
|
individuals who seek to foster workplace safety and to level the |
|
|
playing field for responsible businesses; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Components of a proactive industry approach to |
|
|
worker safety include providing a safe workplace, adequate |
|
|
safety training and rest breaks, and workers' compensation |
|
|
insurance, which ensures that both workers and employers are |
|
|
protected in the event of a workplace accident; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A strong and sustainable construction industry is |
|
|
essential to the economic prosperity of the Lone Star State, and |
|
|
such an industry is fostered by safe worksite practices and fair |
|
|
pay; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd |
|
|
Legislature, hereby recognize February 27, 2013, as the Day of |
|
|
the Fallen in memory of the thousands of Texans who have died in |
|
|
construction-related accidents and their families and call on |
|
|
leaders in the construction industry to uphold the highest |
|
|
standards of workplace safety; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared to |
|
|
commemorate the Day of the Fallen. |
|
|
Rodriguez |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
|
the Senate on February 27, 2013. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |