TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION
Health & Safety Weekly News – Special Edition
February 02, 2010
TWU Health and Safety Department held Seminar
on
Pandemic
Flu
for
Unions
in
the New York area
Twenty seven Union officers had participated of the seminar “Pandemic, Swine and
Seasonal Flu for Unions in the New York area” last Friday, January 29th,
at the SEIU 32BJ Union hall. The event was organized as a training/debate to
improve knowledge on pandemic flu and to have union officers discussing and
sharing their experiences on bargaining over H1N1 policies and protections.
The morning sessions were coordinated by Sharon Simon, Director of the Labor
Safety and Health Training Project/National Labor College (NLC).
Dr. Simon made a presentation on main issues that workers and unions need to
know about H1N1 and seasonal flu, including the difference between H1N1 and
seasonal flu virus, symptoms, levels of exposure and types of transmission,
prevention, vaccines, medications and the role of the Union on protecting their
members. She also discussed the necessary components for an effective control
plan, with emphasis on information, education and training.
In the
afternoon sessions,
David Newman, Industrial Hygienist of the New York Committee for Occupational
Safety and Health (NYCOSH),
detailed the components of infection control plans and coordinated participant’s
testimonies on plans/policies being implemented on their workplaces. The group
was then divided in three subgroups (Aviation, Transit and Utilities).
Considering the specificities of each industry, the subgroups had to identify
and discuss risk exposure levels and infection control strategies in accordance
with the needs of its members. The session was followed by a discussion of
Unions’ experiences in bargaining over H1N1 policies and protections.
The Seminar counted also with
Dr. June Fisher,
Clinical Professor of the School of Medicine, Division of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine, University of California. Dr. June is internationally
known for years of labor activism, research and intervention, and her
participation added density and expertise to the debate. She pointed out the
importance of engaging members in doing
walkarounds to verify potential hazards, and as a way to compromise
workers with health and safety issues in particular, and with Union issues in
general.
Finally, the group discussed the importance of engaging in political actions,
like OSHA and PESH transmissible disease standards that go beyond the healthcare
settings and can help improving protection and prevention for workers in other
sectors.
The program was closed with an evaluation of the state of art of negotiations on
infection control, followed by a general evaluation of the Seminar. The power
point presentations given out are attached.
We
greatly appreciate the support of
NYCOSH, the National Labor College and SEIU 32BJ.
If you represent a TWU Local in New York area and missed this opportunity, don’t
hesitate in contact Monia Besch to
get more details.
Stay tuned for upcoming events!
Health
and Safety Task Force
Ed Watt
Mark Johnson Michael Massoni
Michael Conigliaro Bobby Romaine