Occupational Safety and Health-Can We Rise Again?

Grassroots Action on Health and Safety

Mobilizing our membership and the broader community to help block attacks on workplace health and safety is our goal. Important activities include:

Build community alliances with Committees on Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) groups and other unions to spread the word about health and safety. Make sure your message hits not just union members, but workers in non-union shops too. This could conceivably be a very useful organizing tool.
Organize call-ins to Representatives and Senators.
Start a petition and/or letter writing campaign to Representatives and Senators to oppose assaults on worker safety. Schedule public events to present the petitions or letters to congressional representatives.
Encourage friends and co-workers to write letters to Congress voicing their opinions.
Draft legislative proposals on health and safety issues that would offer more protective measures against workplace injuries and illnesses.
Encourage members of the House Workforce Protection Subcommittee and the Senate Employment Safety and Training Subcommittee to hold field hearings on health and safety issues of concern to our members.
Hold a public meeting with congressional representatives in your congressional district, bringing in injured workers and family members to talk first hand about the need for strong health and safety protections.
Write letters to editors, call talk shows, and encourage local reporters to write about health and safety issues.
Observe Workers' Memorial Day on April 28. This has become the day when unions, their allies, and increasingly management all across the country pause to remember workers who have died or been injured on the job. Every UAW local union should sponsor a memorial meeting, rally, or march to remember workers who have died on the job.