A major shift in direction in the union's safety and health program was approved by GCIU convention delegates by refocusing efforts on grassroots training rather than headquarters-oriented assistance.

The resolution directed the International to fund the new program using the current five cents per member per month safety and health per capita tax that was established at the 1988 convention. That money, previously used to hire a safety director at headquarters, "now can be allocated for GCIU trade union labor education programs, including safety and health," the resolution said.

"The GCIU's safety and health program needs to be changed from a top-down director-led program at International headquarters to a local and member oriented program in the field, training local leaders and members to train others in health and safety," the resolution stated.

Dan Huziak, safety coordinator for Toronto 100M who chaired the convention safety and health committee, and Pat Striewe, a safety and health representative from Toronto, outlined the new program for convention delegates. Huziak and Striewe developed the new GCIU program under the direction of GCIU Vice Pres. Edward J. Toff.

Photo by Herald Grandstaff

Dan Huziak of Toronto 100M and Pat Striewe, a safety and health representative from Toronto, present the new field-oriented safety program at the GCIU convention.

The program, which is already in operation in Ontario where joint safety and health committees are required by law, has helped members to understand the hazards and protections involved in GCIU plants, Huziak said.

Huziak said most GCIU members are aware of the hazards they face at work: cancers, respiratory illnesses, musculoskeletal injuries, hearing loss, reproductive hazards, solvents, ultraviolet processes and products, and on-the-job machine-related accidents.

After showing a video interview with a GCIU member who was seriously burned by chemicals on the job, Striewe said, "the training that we're talking about gives people the solutions they need to prevent those sorts of accidents."

The training part of the new program includes basic and advanced training modules.

Level I is a 30-hour training program that can be delivered during weekend, evening or week-long periods. Striewe noted the Level I training can be linked to other union-related training, such as steward training, grievance handling, and collective bargaining procedures.

Level I includes basic health and safety awareness, including pertinent legislation, identification of hazards, principles of controlling hazards, workplace inspections, accident investigations, and electives such as machine guarding, solvents, and UV processes.

Level II moves on to train members to be safety and health instructors and includes the basic techniques of trade union adult education. "It's the kind of program that's on-going, because as you generate leaders and activists, they move on and you've got to keep generating more of them because they become more and more effective in their work," Striewe said.

Huziak and Striewe already have developed the first materials for the new program, some of which are already available on the GCIU's web site, www.gciu.org.

Also serving on the convention safety and health committee were: Boston 600M Secy.-Treas. John Ring, committee secretary; Seattle 767M Secy.-Treas. Steven Aldrich; Toronto 500M Vice Pres. James Bodie; Nancy Kammeier of St. Louis 505M; Chicago 415S Pres. J.C. Rogers; and Patrick Shannon of Pittsburgh 9N.