In the Fall of 1995, the International Union held its biennial Health, Safety and Environment Conference, bringing together more than 600 local union activists. The USWA has also joined with several other unions in the Center for Worker Health and Safety Education, a consortium to train members who work with hazardous waste or are responsible for responding to hazardous materials incidents. Since our last convention, the two offices have responded to almost 1000 such requests. Typically, this begins with a letter from a local union, through its staff representative, to the district director, who in turn contacts the International Health, Safety and Environment Department or the Canadian National Office. Working together, the local union safety and health committee, staff representatives, and specialists from the International Union attempt to identify the precise nature of the problem and the best way to solve it.
Some cases involve little more than sending a fact sheet to a local concerned about a new chemical.
Others require a great deal more, including plant visits, meetings with the company and government agencies, engineering studies, and legal action. The role of the Headquarters and the Canadian National Office is to provide specialized knowledge of safety hazards, toxic chemicals, occupational medicine, government regulations, and the experience of working with other locals on similar problems. But the key to success is an active local union safety and health committee backed up by local union officers and the district staff. Our job is to work with the local union, not instead of it. No specialist from Pittsburgh or Toronto can replace a strong local union effort.