Corporate activity in Puerto Rico: Westinghouse responds

To the Editor:

In reference to Dr. Neftali Garcia's comments on Westinghouse's operations in Puerto Rico (Multinational Monitor, February, 1980), Westinghouse has long had an active industrial hygiene program which includes procedures for handling mercury in our plant in Puerto Rico. We take regular and accurate readings of mercury levels in the facility and we periodically check our employees. The results of such tests have been well within established limits. All of our studies indicated that we are in compliance with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other government regulations. Based on our tests and studies we feel there is no basis for the charges which have been made.

As a matter of fact, after the Industrial Mission held its press conference in October, 1978, and made alarming statements concerning mercury levels in the Westinghouse plant, some of our employees were understandably concerned. To alleviate their fears we advised them that, if they wished to do so, they could go to their own doctors for an examination at company expense. A few employees elected to have such an examination. As a result, no one was found to have a problem involving high mercury levels in the blood or urine.

In addition, we offered to let any recognized government agency into our plant to conduct whatever studies they felt were indicated. Both OS HA and the Puerto Rican Health Department inspected the plant. Neither organization issued a citation as a result of their examinations.

- Robert Owens
Director of Operations for Puerto Rico
Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Dr. Garcia replies:

The October 1978 press conference was called after the Industrial Mission collected data on the urine of workers in Westinghouse's Cayey plant, and on the air quality outside the factory. The data indicated there were violations of OSHA regulations inside and outside the facility.

If, in fact, Westinghouse has taken steps to correct the situation, that is good news for the company's workers. We find it difficult to trust the corporation, however. Before our press conference, nobody spoke of hazards at the plant. Neither OSHA, nor Westinghouse, nor the Puerto Rican Labor Department said anything.

Westinghouse asserts that OSHA did not issue a citation after their inspection of the plant. That is nothing new. Up to this day, OSHA has never fined a company in Puerto Rico for violating health and safety regulations.

Ghanaians applaud analysis

To the Editor:

We have noted with deep appreciation your elucidating article on the operation of the Valco Aluminum Corporation in Ghana which appeared in your maiden issue.

We are in no doubt that your article was written after painstaking research and shows sympathetic understanding for Ghana's economic plight.

The contents of your article have been communicated to our government and I am confident that the very fine points raised will come in useful to the Government and people of Ghana.

We appreciate your concern to see justice done to the people of our country and we doff our hats for a job well done.

More grease to your elbow.

- Richard Horsley
Information Counsellor
Embassy of Ghana
Washington, D.C.

Praise and action

To the Editor:

Congratulations! The first issue of Multinational Monitor is marvelous. I read the entire issue, even though it made me so angry I could barely tolerate it. It also gave me hope because of the great increase in exposure your magazine will give to the terrible impact of multinationals. Companies so often use their own wealth and power to propagate such a different image.

After reading the short article on the sea conference, 1 found the number of the House bill and encouraged a few people to write their Representatives and the president asking that they oppose passage. Not much, but every bit helps.

Good luck. Thanks much and may God bless your work abundantly.

- Sister Gladys Schmidt
Chicago, Illinois