The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #65768

Jan Borman, PhD, MPH, RN, Minnesota Nurses Assoication, 1625 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108, 651-646-4807, borman@mn.rr.com and Diane O'Connor, MPA, BA, RN, Minnesota Nurses Association, 1625 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108.

The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) launched in 2002 a project to improve union workers’ health, for purposes of increasing the quality of life for workers and their families. To meet this goal, MNA is building a long-lasting, statewide partnership with other Minnesota unions to reduce systematically union worker’s health risks. The first step in building this partnership was key informant interviews on general health topics with the top executives of seven Minnesota unions. Leaders expressed concern about the health and cost consequences of smoking, citing the increasing healthcare costs attributed to smokers and how this has become an issue while negotiating contracts. Often the harm from tobacco was viewed as a social justice issue, where “an injury to one is an injury to all.” When smoking cessation was presented as a population-based approach to reducing members’ smoking rates, leaders requested further information on smoking cessation options. Major Minnesota health plan account representatives for labor were interviewed about their smoking cessation programs. Like the union leadership, the health plan representatives expressed concern about the unsustainable rate at which healthcare costs are raising, in part, as a result of tobacco use. The conclusion drawn from the interviews was that union leaders, insurers, and employers all want to assist union members who want to stop smoking. MNA will work to bring union leaders, health plan representatives, and smoking cessation experts together to engage in collaborative problem solving to reduce members’ tobacco use as part of unions’ existing efforts to promote members’ health.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the session, participants will understand how union partnerships can reduce systematically union worker’s health risks.
• At the end of the session, participants will understand union leaders’ health and cost concerns related to tobacco use by union members.

Keywords: Tobacco, Union

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employer