Roles of Health and Safety in Labor Organizing

The labor movement in the United States is at a critical juncture. It must grow or its members will face the economic, social and political consequences of progressively diminishing influence. Traditionally organizing campaigns have focused on economic concerns and management's employee policies and procedures. The quality of working conditions is also an important element and concerns among workers about the importance of health and safety is widespread.

Information about workplace exposures and activism on health and safety concerns has played an important role in efforts to organize new union members. The inclusion of these issues, however, frequently encounters obstacles. This presentation will review examples of the integration of health and safety issues in both external and internal organizing efforts, and indicate why it is important that their inclusion be expanded.