Workplace Safety is Still an Issue

Here's what you need to know this week:

This week, workers at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, TN are voting on whether or not the UAW will represent them. In addition to better pay and benefits, many workers at this plant are hoping to put an end to a rampant string of workplace injuries stemming from an understaffed plant with overworked employees. With many injuries resulting in a barebones on-site medical team essentially telling them to "walk it off", workers are hoping that this third union vote will finally be successful. 

Safety on the job hits close to home, too. Less than a month ago, Brother Thomas Dunn, a Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) Operator from ATU Local 1593, was murdered at work. Now his sisters and brothers are demanding safety upgrades to HART buses, specifically a type of barrier or enclosure around the driver. At a recent HART board meeting, workers gathered in solidarity to insist that cameras are simply not enough, as they do nothing to stop tragedies like this from occurring. Rather, they only provide us with footage of them happening. In addition, numerous reports from operators claim that the dispatch center which is meant to provide guidance at all times is frequently either unavailable when incidents occur or instructs employees to continue working as if nothing happened. 

Around the United States, workers are injured and killed every day. In fact, according to the latest AFL-CIO Death on the Job report, 275 workers die each day from hazardous working conditions while 8 million public sector employees lack OSHA protections. To get more info on these statistics and see the full report, CLICK HERE.

Danger in the workplace is not some bygone horror of the 19th century existing only in certain industries. It continues to be a real issue that claims countless lives every year. In many cases, workplace protections are a direct result of elections, and these preventable tragedies are a sobering reminder of the need to be involved. 

Here's what's coming up:

- On Tuesday (6/18), the special election for Florida House District 38 will take place. While we don't have an endorsement in this race, we encourage everyone to check with their local for a recommendation and, either way, get out to vote! CLICK HERE to get more information on this election and how to vote.

Keep in Mind:

If you'll be doing any Father's Day shopping for this weekend, we hope you'll do your best to support your brothers and sisters and buy union made products. Here are some suggestions:

That's all for this week! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. If you would like to receive text message alerts from the Florida AFL-CIO (Msg & data rates may apply), text FLUNION to 235246!

In Solidarity,

West Central Florida Labor Council

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