Senate approves anti-ergonomics amendment to labor bill

WASHINGTON (June 27)—In a sharply partisan, 57-41 vote, Senate Republicans won approval of an amendment to its Labor Department appropriations bill prohibiting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration from using any of its fiscal year 2001 funds to implement its proposed rule on ergonomics. This means both the House and Senate labor bills would bar the agency from issuing its ergonomics standard, which is loathed by business interests but staunchly supported by labor unions. President Clinton has vowed to veto any Labor Department appropriations package that contains the ergonomics ban.