| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Construction workers and members of the Build a |
|
|
Better Texas Coalition are gathering in Austin on March 1, 2017, to |
|
|
promote workplace safety in the construction industry; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The construction industry plays a significant role |
|
|
in the Texas economy, with nearly one million 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 2012 to 2015, 452 |
|
|
construction workers lost their lives on the job, nearly twice as |
|
|
many as in the state with the next highest number of deaths; 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 workplace practices and fair |
|
|
pay; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize March 1, 2017, as the Day of the Fallen |
|
|
in memory of the thousands of Texans who have died in |
|
|
construction-related accidents and call on leaders in the |
|
|
construction industry to uphold the highest standards of workplace |
|
|
safety; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the Build a Better Texas Coalition to commemorate the |
|
|
Day of the Fallen. |
| |
|
|
Walle |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 538 was adopted by the House on March |
|
|
1, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |