WHEREAS:

Close to 10 million Americans are infected with the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). The number of reported cases in the United States has risen over 20% since 1985 and in 1992 nearly 27,000 active cases of TB were reported nationwide. During 1992, 22 states reported increases over 1991 in the number of TB cases. The largest increases occurred in Virginia (20.6%), Illinois (6.5%), New York (3.3%) and California (2.1%). The largest increases reported in cities with populations of 250,000 or more were in Houston (25.7%), San Diego (19.3%), Chicago (5.9%) and New York City (3.5%); and

WHEREAS:

There is a general lack of training and knowledge in all areas relating to TB including how tuberculosis is transmitted, how to protect oneself from exposure, the difference between infection and active disease, the symptoms of TB and what constitutes high risk; and

WHEREAS:

The groups at highest risk of occupational exposure to tuberculosis are health care workers, corrections officers and shelter workers; and

WHEREAS:

Although the basic knowledge and technology necessary for minimizing workplace transmission of tuberculosis is available, there are only limited government regulations that will protect members against TB in the workplace; and

WHEREAS:

New strains of tuberculosis are resistant to standard drug therapy, resulting in untreatable and potentially fatal cases of tuberculosis. At least 17 health care workers have developed active, multi-drug resistant TB. Ten worker deaths from tuberculosis have been reported in the last two years. An AFSCME member in New York died of drug-resistant tuberculosis that he acquired while guarding hospitalized inmates; and

WHEREAS:

Many AFSCME members have tested positive for tuberculosis infection that was acquired on the job; and

WHEREAS:

The federal and state governments have neglected adequate funding for TB control for decades and considerable research remains to be done on how to protect workers from contracting TB in the workplace.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals representing workers in occupations where there is a risk of exposure to tuberculosis demand that employers educate their members on the health effects, modes of transmission and symptoms associated with tuberculosis infection and disease; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME pursue regulatory and legislative action to force effective tuberculosis infection control in occupational settings, including the development of an OSHA standard on TB and the finalization of CDC's guidelines for controlling TB in health care settings; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals are urged to negotiate contract language that protects tuberculosis-infected employees from discrimination and restrictions, and are urged to negotiate contract language that includes a presumption of work-relatedness for members who test positive for TB infection; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME insist that federal, state and local governments increase funding for tuberculosis control programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME insist that the federal government support increased research on methods of protecting workers in high risk settings, including the use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVC), respiratory protection, and vaccine development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand the scope of TB guidelines to include all workplaces in which TB transmission is possible; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME assist locals in establishing employer-paid tuberculosis screening and counseling to identify members with tuberculosis infection and active disease, and that AFSCME will provide technical assistance to councils and locals that are assisting members with tuberculosis-related workers' compensation claims; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals negotiate contract language, contact elected officials, seek local legislation and use all appropriate means to compel health care facilities, correctional institutions and other high risk settings to install effective engineering controls, isolation rooms and proper ventilation systems as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to prevent the transmission of tuberculosis to members.

SUBMITTED BY:

John Westmoreland, President
Beth A. Norby, Secretary
AFSCME Local 600, Council 6
Minnesota