Oral

This session contains project descriptions submitted to OHS section on community and union involvement.This includes: While unions in many sectors of the U.S. workforce are on the decline, the number of unionized hospitality workers is increasing. Union workplaces, historically safer than non-union ones, offer union members distinct advantages in advocating for health and safety compared to non-union workers. Health and safety continues to be a leading concern of workers organizing for labor representation. UNITE HERE, the leading hospitality workers union in North America, continues to use various methods available as the bargaining agent at full-service hotels to improve working conditions. These include grievances related to workload (e.g. room quota for housekeepers); expanded health and safety research; and new contract language on workload, light duty policies, and ergonomic hazards. How can a small team made up of nuclear site workers, local union leaders, international staff, and consultants take on the daunting task of examining employer compliance with new comprehensive federal health and safety regulations at these U.S. sites? We will share experiences and learnings from a newly-launched union- led participatory assessment of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Worker Health and Safety Program regulation (10 CFR 851). This regulation specifies components of an employer health and safety program that must be incorporated at DOE facilities.

Session Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the participant will be able to list the four project overviews in the projects described: * Be able to list the current community/union projects described in the reports * Be able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the projects. * Be able to name the contact personnel for follow-up information