WHEREAS:

Over 1300 public employees were killed on the job in 1986 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:

Fighting for improved health and safety policies should be a top priority for AFSCME according to a poll of AFSCME members; and

WHEREAS:

Public employees 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:

Workplace health and safety problems are directly linked to community health and safety problems; and

WHEREAS:

Under the Reagan Administration, federal health and safety agencies have failed in their statutory responsibility to protect workers on the job, due to cuts in staffing and funding, administrative policy changes, and interference from the Office of Management and Budget.

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

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME locals set up strong health and safety committees and actively seek to introduce language into contracts 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 go on record opposing OMB interference in the establishment of regulations protecting the occupational health and safety of workers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME support the strengthening of the Clean Air Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and other legislation to protect the environment and which will include strong worker protection programs covering public employees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals work for strong enforcement of state and local Right-to-Know legislation where it exists and to work for enactment of such legislation where public employees are not now covered; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge OSHA and EPA to update its chemical exposure limits and to issue regulations covering anesthetic waste gases, infectious diseases, confined space entry, pesticides, indoor air pollution and video display terminals; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

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

SUBMITTED BY:

International Executive Board

Ed Marchewka, President
Jim Samolinski, Secretary
AFSCME Local 882, Council 48
Milwaukee, Wisconsin