SGCIU Vice Pres. Leonard E. Adams reported to the General Board that the union received word from the Labor Department that the second year of the safety training grant will be funded, although at a slightly reduced level.

In Labor Department budget cutbacks earlier this year, the Bush administration canceled funding for the Susan Harwood Training Grant program distributed through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The GCIU had received approval for a possible $1.5 million, five-year Harwood grant from the Clinton administration to fund a train-the-trainer program in safety and health. In the first year of the grant, Adams, GCIU Vice Pres. Edward J. Toff, and GCIU local safety activists worked with the New York-based Labor Institute to develop the program. The union held two week-long training sessions for local activists, with more planned in coming months. The group also developed a training manual that will be used by trainers for local union and shop-wide training.

Adams told General Board members that the Labor Department "was happy with our results, but the money is no longer available. . . . [They said] we will get funding for a second year but to not expect it to be renewed after that."

General Board Education Committee Secy. and New York 1L Vice Pres. Arthur T. McCullough said in his committee report that the Labor Dept. will provide about $223,000 for the fiscal year Oct. 1, 2001, to Sept. 30, 2002.