Local 513's Mark Johnson will be the first TWU member to chair the Labor Division of the National Safety Council when it meets again next spring. The gavel was passed to Johnson following the NSC's October 23-25 fall meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Johnson, a member of TWU's Health & Safety Task Force, had been Vice Chair of the NSC Labor Division for one year. Terms were recently extended so he will be the first chairperson to serve for two years, a move that is expected to provide more continuity in program development.

TWU has long been active in the NSC, which includes most of the country's largest industrial unions. Ed Watt, Director of TWU's Health & Safety Department, attended the Orlando meeting and looks forward to TWU playing a bigger role in the Labor Division. "Mark Johnson is the right man for this job at a time when safety issues can once again be addressed," Watt said. "His selection is a tribute to his hard work and dedication around safety issues. It is also a great opportunity for all trade unionists to come together around safety concerns. Every TWU member should be proud of Mark."

For Johnson, the NSC post is another role in an already busy union career. He serves as Local 513's Benefits Coordinator and Safety Chairman, as well as serving on the American Airlines System Safety Committee and Chairperson of the AA System Benefits Committee.

After becoming a Fleet Service Clerk at AA in 1987, Johnson was introduced to health and safety issues when he handled Workers' Compensation cases. "I tried to help co-workers through the process," he said, "but I also became interested in how to prevent injuries."

As a member of American's ergonomic team, Johnson was able to make recommendations to make jobs more worker-friendly. While attention to safety issues can also benefit the company's bottom line, he said, "For me, the people are more important than the money. Successful programs prevent many injuries, some of which could be life-threatening or career-ending."

Johnson is bringing his enthusiasm for health and safety to the chairperson's role at the Labor Division. A member of NSC since 2000, he believes the organization's biggest draw is the networking opportunities. "It's a great place to meet folks in your industry and come up with solutions to mutual problems," he says.

As chairperson, Johnson hopes to increase involvement by more TWU locals as well as other unions, saying that greater participation will lower overall costs and lead to safer workplaces.

"The NSC is a valuable resource," he says. "It's worth the small investment by locals. The return will far exceed the investment."