Health and safety walk-around inspections results, safety committee reports, surveys and studies can be used during contract negotiations. These resources can be used to make a case during negotiations, including why members deserve better pay. In addition, a well-informed negotiating committee can help formalize necessary safety improvements in collective bargaining agreements, which helps improve working conditions in a concrete way.

When conflicts have to be settled by third-party action, such as arbitration, health and safety documentation can be used to prove the union's positions are justified, and can also be used as evidence when grievances are filed.

Most transportation jobs involve hard work, lots of stress and, sometimes, very dangerous working conditions. Unfortunately, many of our passengers or consumers have no idea how transportation work can be so detrimental to our long term health and downright dangerous. Health and safety facts and information help to explain to the public how transportation workers risk their own well being to get the public to work safely on time, or to make sure their baggage doesn't get lost. Once the public sees that information, the union can gain public support for whatever issue may be at hand, and public support is a strong force to have on your side.

Transportation is also heavily regulated at all levels of government. We know that with one single piece of legislation, years of collective-bargaining gains can be swept away. Hours of service, medical standards, and drug and alcohol testing are just some of the areas where legislation can impact our work lives. The ability to use health and safety material in the arena of public policy is crucial; testifying at legislative hearings can be a powerful tool to get our message delivered.

Management is undoubtedly using surveys and other measurements of health and safety to their own advantage, which is often not to the workers advantage. The ability to respond with the same level of expertise puts the union at an advantage in instances when management might use their health and safety statistics in a way that would be detrimental to workers.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, bringing our members together around health and safety builds a stronger union. Keeping our members safe is something of which we can be proud. Contributed by Health and Safety Director Ed Watt