Oral

The freedom of workers to form unions is a fundamental human right and a public health issue. The right to form unions is affirmed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights -- the cornerstone document of the modern human rights movement -- and is recognized in principle in the United States by the National Labor Relations Act and the Constitution itself. This session will examine why the freedom to form unions is a public health issue, including the economic and social problems that emerge in the absence of strong unions. The session will explore the relationship between unions and socioeconomic status and access to quality health care, how unions impact workers’ ability to gain protection under public health related labor legislation such as the OSHAct, and the union role in supporting worker voice in the workplace.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe and discuss why the freedom to form unions is a public health issue. 2. Describe and discuss the effect of unions on wages and benefits and on the ability of workers to gain protection under public health-related labor legislation such as the OSHAct. 3. Analyze how unions provide workers with a voice in improving the quality of the specialized services they provide or the products they produce.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)