Standing Strong for Safe and Healthy Workplaces

For CWA, workplace safety and health protection is a top priority. Making up CWA's Occupational Safety and Health program are safety and health coordinators from every district and more than 75 percent of locals have safety and health committees. Across CWA, there are more than 2,500 workplace safety and health activists who work together to advance health and safety efforts for every CWA sector.

In regular safety and health conference calls, district sessions and meetings, CWAers review job hazards at workplaces and the latest in training and hazard prevention to help keep workers safe and limit their exposure to health hazards, said CWA Safety and Health Director Dave LeGrande.

CWA members also work with safety and health activists from the AFL-CIO and other unions to press for new protections for workers. "Now that we have an ally again in the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, we can make progress in ensuring that the fundamental right of all workers to a workplace free from recognized safety and health hazards is upheld," he said.

Locals interested in starting or expanding a safety and health program and activists who want to get more involved can find more information at ga.cwa-union.org/ issues/osh/.

Time to Update OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 promised America's workers the right to a safe and healthful job. Progress has been made since OSHA was passed, but the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities remains far too high. Every year, thousands of workers are killed and millions more are injured or become ill due to their jobs.

The OSHA law has never been updated and there are some critical gaps and weaknesses in coverage. Millions of state and public employees, flight attendants and other workers are denied workplace protections under OSHA. Penalties for employers who commit serious and willful violations are too weak and workers who report workplace hazards, injuries and illnesses still face threats and retaliation from employers because protection for whistleblowers is inadequate.

The Protecting America's Workers Act, H.R. 2067 and S. 1580 would update and strengthen the OSHA law by providing stronger job safety and health rights and protections for workers. The legislation would:

• Provide coverage under OSHA for state and local public sector workers, federal workers, flight attendants, and others who have no OSHA protection. 
• Increase OSHA civil and criminal penalties for job safety violations. 
• Enhance whistleblower protections for workers who raise job safety concerns and report injuries or illnesses.  
• Expand worker and union rights in OSHA inspections and enforcement cases. 
• Require the correction of hazards while employer contests/appeals are pending.  
• Give victims of job injuries and illnesses and family members the right to be heard in OSHA investigations.

Photo Caption: The 165 activists attending CWA's health and safety conference explores ways to work with the Obama administration as OSHA gets back on track on its mission to ensure safe and healthful working conditions. General sessions and workshops covered ergonomics, occupational stress, the H1N1 flu virus, workplace violence and the connection between safety and health and the economy.