191295 Health and safety issues are integral to successful organizing drives

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 2:30 PM

Steven Mooser, MPH , Health and Safety Department, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union/UFCW, New York, NY
     
It is imperative that labor unions reverse the 55 year decline in the percentage of workforce unionization if they are remain a viable force for social and economic justice in the United States. The RWDSU and other unions are increasingly focused on developing opportunities where health and safety knowledge and concerns can become a more integral part of organizing drives.

Health care workers face a variety of occupational health and safety hazards such as exposure to infectious agents and injuries related to lifting, and experience a rate of lost time injuries and illnesses significantly higher than the average for all workers. Safety on the job and the general quality of working conditions are issues which virtually all workers care about. Acknowledging and addressing these concerns has been an important component of successful organizing drives.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe how workers’ shared concern about workplace health and safety has played an important role in several successful organizing drives. 2. Discuss the importance of viewing workplace health and safety as an important value issue, rather than predominantly a legal or technical concern. 3. List how health and safety issues can help build broader community support for organizing drives.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Occupational Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am Diredtor of Health and Safety for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union/UFCW and as such have research and written, testified, and conducted workshops and trainings on health and safety issues affecting health care workers. I also have a Master's in Public Health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Health, Safety and Professional Issues in Organizing Health Care Workers
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