ISSA Advocacy Recap—September 9, 2019

Welcome to the ISSA Advocacy Weekly Recap! This is ISSA’s regular roundup of the latest public policy-related issues impacting the cleaning industry.

State Legislation Setting Strict Gig Worker Rules Nears Passage
The rise of the gig economy has created concerns by some over how these workers are classified. In response, California is looking to tighten the standards about when these workers can be classified as independent contractors. This issue could impact the some in the residential cleaning industry. The legislature has until September 13 to pass the bill.

Companies in U.S. Blame Trade for 10,488 Job Cuts in August
An independent survey of companies by the staffing firm Challenger, Gray, & Christmas Inc found that concerns over “trade pressures,” including the trade war with China, has resulted in more than 10,000 jobs being cut. ISSA has been a vocal opponent to the China tariffs and a supporter of free trade as a member of the Americans for Free Trade Coalition.

California Considering Three Plastic Packing Bills
“I think we’re on the same page with what these bills are trying to accomplish,” said Tim Shestek of the American Chemistry Council to the Los Angeles Times. The California state legislature has until September 13 to pass these bills. ISSA has been tracking this issue and how it might impact packaging of cleaning products.

De Blasio Proposes Robot Tax
The adoption of robots and robotics is becoming more prevalent in the workplace, including the cleaning industry. In response to this trend and the possible impacts it could have on replacing workers, New York City Mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Bill de Blasio has announced a proposal to tax these robots.

Other links of interest:

• Government Incentives for Hiring Ex-offenders, Disabled, and Veterans
• Surfactant Industry Being Impacted by the Trade War
• Wisconsin Nears 50,000 Unvaccinated Children as U.S. Copes With Measles Outbreak
• Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter Walks Back Confusing Statement about SC Johnson
• ISSA Today: Become an Advocate for CLEAN