Around 200 Pittsburgh area workers for federal safety agency laid off

At least two-thirds of the staff at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) were laid off on Tuesday.

Locally, the federal government cut 200 union positions from the agency responsible for researching and preventing workplace injuries and outbreaks. Workers at the South Hills plant received notification via email; some were informed that their termination was effective immediately, while others had a few weeks’ notice.

“We had a commitment to the country, and we believed that we were making a difference and that our work mattered, and we still believe that,” said Linda Chasko, a NIOSH employee and vice president of the union.

Suzanne Alison told Channel 11 News that she received her notice when she logged into her computer, stating she had until June. We asked the workers how they felt after reading the notice.

“A little bit betrayed, hurt, abandoned,” Chasko replied.

Combined, Suzanne Alison and Linda Chasko have spent more than 50 years at NIOSH, emphasizing the importance of their work. The agency is responsible for researching and preventing workplace injuries and protecting thousands of workers, including miners, firefighters, and healthcare professionals.

“We prevent disasters. We respond to emergencies, and it requires extensive training and research,” Chasko explained.

Workers expressed uncertainty about the future of their current research, laboratories, and the multiple mines they test and operate on-site.

“NIOSH leadership has been completely out of touch. No one has consulted the people who understand our work or asked about its value,” said Brenden Demich.

The employees are now calling on elected officials for assistance. We reached out to Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick but did not receive a response. Congresswoman Summer Lee has visited the site, spoken with workers, and stated on Tuesday that she would fight to reverse this decision. She provided the following statement:

“The research done at NIOSH doesn’t just stay in a lab — it ensures that nurses caring for patients, steelworkers on the line, and factory workers exposed to fine particulates can breathe safely and return home to their families. That is worth fighting for. That is worth funding.”

Due to a federal government hiring freeze, workers in South Hills are unable to transfer to different departments, and once their employment ends, they will also lose their benefits.

“[We have] bills to pay, mortgages, and children in college. For those who are recent graduates, there are student loans — it’s a lot to handle,” Alison noted.

The workers hope there is still time for the federal government to reverse this decision and save hundreds of jobs.

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