WHEREAS:

Fighting for safer workplaces and protecting the lives and health of members is a top priority for AFSCME; and

WHEREAS:

Nearly 20 years have passed since passage of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, although the terrible toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities continues; and

WHEREAS:

Over 1600 public employees were killed on the job in 1988 and over a quarter of a million suffered disabling injuries. The full extent of hazards in the public sector is unknown because adequate injury and illness statistics do not exist for public employees, nor do these statistics cover occupationally related illnesses; and

WHEREAS:

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 does not provide for mandatory coverage for public employees, although public employees do some of the most dangerous and unpleasant work our society demands to provide safe and pleasant lives for Americans; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME members are on the frontier of new occupational health and safety hazards including infectious diseases, indoor air pollution, violence in the workplace, video display terminals and toxic wastes; and

WHEREAS:

The problem of understaffing and working alone in dangerous situations is increasing in many industries as management cuts back on labor in order to save money; and

WHEREAS:

Workplace health and safety problems are directly linked to general environmental problems.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to provide technical assistance and hold local regional and national conferences as appropriate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals make every effort to educate their members on health and safety hazards and solutions and provide adequate support staff; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME locals set up strong health and safety committees and actively seek to introduce language into contracts and/or legislation specifying the employer's obligation to provide a workplace free from recognized or suspected hazards, the right of employees to refuse hazardous work, and management's obligation to abide by all OSHA standards and regulations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME support the strengthening of the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and other legislation to protect the environment, and which will include strong worker protection and training programs covering public employees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge OSHA and EPA to issue regulations covering anesthetic waste gases, infectious diseases, stress, confined space entry, pesticides, indoor air pollution, ergonomics, back injuries and video display terminals, and that OSHA address the issue of understaffing as a health and safety hazard; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME explore the use of product liability suits and the prosecution of employers under criminal statutes where willful disregard of the law results in injury, disease and death; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME encourage all states that do not have federally approved public employee OSHA plans to pass the appropriate legislation, and that this become a legislative priority for AFSCME councils and locals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME declare every April 28 to be Workers Memorial Day and work with other unions to make the day a major event to remind the American public of the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and death; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME strongly urge Congress to improve the federal OSHA law to include coverage for all public and private sector workers, the Right-to-Know Act, training and education, mandatory safety and health committees, the right to refuse life-threatening work, better reporting of occupational injuries and illness, stronger standards and better enforcement.

SUBMITTED BY:

Charles Pitts, President
Sandra M. Floyd, Secretary
AFSCME Council 13
Harrisburg, PA