TRANSPORT WORKERS UNION

Health & Safety Weekly News

January 21, 2010

TWU Creates Disaster Relief Task Force to enable the union act immediately to help Haiti and stay for the long run

The people in Haiti and their families here in the United States and around the world need our help. Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti has brought the country to its knees and left it reeling for any and all kind of aid. TWU International President James C. Little established the TWU Disaster Relief Fund to help people in Haiti through this catastrophe. "These people and families in Haiti need all the help we can give," said President Little. "I urge all TWU members to give what they can to aid us in our efforts to alleviate the tragic suffering in the country."

President Little also noted that the TWU has many members of Haitian decent throughout the organization and the TWU must come together to support our Haitian members and their families, as well as others in Haiti.

Donate to TWU’s fund, planned in coordination with other affiliates and the AFL-CIO. A financial donation can be made out to:

"TWU Disaster Relief Fund"
The Transport Workers Union
Attn: John O'Donnell
1700 Broadway 2nd Floor,
New York, NY 10019

AAR Weighing Positive Train Control Final Rule / OH&S

Railroads and other stakeholders have until Feb. 14 to submit comments about the Federal Railroad Administration's rule, which would require significant additional safety investments by the rail industry. Read More

Suspended Thai railway workers must get their jobs back, says labor relations body / ITF

The trade unionists were suspended on 28 October 2009 after taking part in industrial action that was geared to highlight urgent safety concerns on the railways. Read More

Traffic cops at higher cancer risk / India Today

Exposed to vehicular pollution during a large part of the day, traffic policemen face a high risk of changes in genetic material. Read More

Memphis Sanitation Workers Protest on MLK's Birthday / Eye Witness News

"All we're asking is that he follows the language in our MOU.  It's not safe to work in the cold.  And when it's raining, we can't see.  It's dangerous to be in the middle of the street like that when water is pouring all down your face." Read More

Report: Politics and safety in California / Safety at Work

According the report, there was a marked change in the enforcement policies of Cal-OSHA shortly after the election of Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor of California. Read More

Documentary: “Protected or Neglected: Workplace Safety” / The Pump Handle

The documentary is based on a 9-month investigation by the southern California not-for-profit public television station.  Sadly, what we’ve read and learned previously about the deficiencies in other OSHA State Plan states appears to prevail in California as well. Read More

Formaldehyde Exposure among Industrial Workers Is Associated with Increased Risk of Cancers of the Blood and Lymphatic System / National Cancer Institute

Results from an ongoing study of workers employed at plants that used or produced formaldehyde continue to show a possible link between formaldehyde exposure and death from cancers of the blood and lymphatic system. Read More

Pandemic Flu

CDC Situation Update: Key Flu Indicators

During the week of January 3-9, 2010, all key indicators declined compared to the previous week. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report decreased over the previous week and remains below what is expected for this time of year. In addition, another seven flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week: six of these deaths were associated with laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1 and one death was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was not determined. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 300 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths: 255 due to 2009 H1N1, 43 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but the flu virus subtype was not determined, and two pediatric deaths that were associated with seasonal influenza viruses. Click here to see estimates about the number of 2009 H1N1 cases and related hospitalizations and deaths. Read More

Vaccination: CDC recommends influenza vaccination as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. Because supply and availability of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine have increased dramatically, CDC is now encouraging everyone who has been patiently waiting to receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine to get vaccinated at this time.

Health & Wellness

Data: US obesity rate high, but not rising / Washington Post More

Patients demand: 'Give us our damned data' / CNN More

Will New York Tax Soda? / The wall Street Journal More

Health Care Reform

Does Brown's Senate Win Mean the End of Health Reform? / Time More

What Does Scott Brown Mean for the Health-Care Debate? / The Wall Street Journal More

Trumka: Massachusetts Election Shows Need for Results in Washington / AFL-CIO More

Health and Safety Task Force

Ed Watt       Mark Johnson       Michael Massoni       Michael Conigliaro       Bobby Romaine